Report by Fr. Declan McFadden OFM Cap. sent to Fr. Edwin Fitzgibbon OFM Cap., Provincial Minister, on the progress of the Irish Capuchin mission in Barotseland, Northern Rhodesia. Reference is made to the difficulties encountered by the first missionaries (including Fr. Timothy Phelim O’Shea OFM Cap., Fr. Killian Flynn OFM Cap., Fr. Seraphin Nesdale OFM Cap. (1897-1980) and Fr. Casimir Butler OFM Cap.); the establishment of the Loanja mission; negotiations with government authorities and tribal leaders; the work of other missionary orders including the White Fathers and the Jesuits. Fr. Declan concludes ‘as regards the mission outlook in general in Barotseland, I must candidly state it is going to be a very tough problem. The whole territory is fearfully primitive and undeveloped. The only transport help of a convenient or modern touch that we have as an ally is a spasmodic lumber train which carries us from Livingstone to the Barotse border’.
Deed of proclamation of election ballot results for Regular Superior and Consultors at the Capuchin chapter in Zambia. The election was supervised by Fr. Brendan O’Mahony OFM Cap., Provincial Minister.
Lists of Irish Capuchin friars at various mission stations in Northern Rhodesia. The list is arranged under the following locations: St. Mary’s, Livingstone (Rt. Rev. Bishop O’Shea OFM Cap., Vicar Apostolic) St. Theresa’s Pro-Cathedral, Livingstone Christ the King Mission, Maramba St. Fidelis Mission, Sichili Holy Family Mission, Katima Mulilo St. Joseph’s Mission, Mankoya St. Francis Mission, Mongu St. Patrick’s Mission, Kalabo Sancta Maria Mission
Statistical form completed by Fr. Anthony Boran OFM Cap. for the Irish Missionary Service Centre, Dublin. The report includes the following information in tabular form: Zambia: 34 Priests; 7 Brothers; 15 Lay. Total: 53 South West Africa (Katima Mulilo): 2 Priests; 1 Brother; 2 Lay. Total: 5 Kenya: 1 Priest. Total: 1 South Africa (Cape Province): 8 Priests; 2 Brothers. Total: 10 New Zealand: 3 Priests; 1 Brother. Total: 4.
Directory of the Diocese of Livingstone (the Most Rev. Timothy Phelim O’Shea OFM Cap., Bishop) noting the number of parishes, priests, missionaries and communicants.
Listing of archival records and publications held in the Zambian Capuchin Archives in Mongu, Western Province, Zambia. The catalogue was compiled by Fr. Owen O’Sullivan OFM Cap. The listing includes references to Provincial Bulletins, mission pages from 'The Father Mathew Record', Zambian Chapter Reports, Mass registers, statistics and personnel lists, financial records and accounts, school and hospital records, correspondence, photographic albums and mission slides. With a listing of Irish Capuchin material in the National Zambian Archives. The files relate to hospitals, dispensaries and schools established by the Capuchins in the mission districts.
Lists of Capuchin friars in Zambia from 1931-99. The list was compiled for research purposes by Fr. Bruno McKnight OFM Cap. (d. 21 Dec. 2012). The list gives the years in which each of the 101 named friars served in Northern Rhodesia (Zambia). The file also includes personnel lists for the friars attached to the Vice-Province of St. Francis, Zambia. The information is given under the headings of name, address and contact details.
Letter from Fr. Kevin OSF to Fr. Edwin Fitzgibbon OFM Cap., Provincial Minister, seeking support for the building of the first local Franciscan Sisters’ convent at the Nsambya Mission in Kampala, Uganda. The appeal reads: ‘There is a great field of work to be done there, and we need the help of these native Sisters at all the missions so badly’.
Letters from Fr. Sylvester Mulligan OFM Cap., General Definitor, to Fr. Edwin Fitzgibbon OFM Cap., Provincial Minister, re the canonical establishment of the Irish Capuchin mission in Northern Rhodesia. He also asks for a list of potential candidates for the position of Regular Superior.
Newspaper cuttings, ceremonial booklet and other documents relating to the consecration of Monsignor Timothy Phelim O’Shea OFM Cap. as Vicar Apostolic of Livingstone by the Most Rev. Ettore Felici, Apostolic Nuncio, at St. Mary of the Angels, Church Street, Dublin, on 8 September 1950. The attendees included President Sean T. O’Kelly, the Taoiseach, John A. Costello, and Éamon de Valera. The file includes cuttings of photographic prints of the consecration mass, the departure of Bishop O’Shea OFM Cap. from Dublin to return to Africa (with Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap., Provincial Minister). Includes cuttings from the 'Dublin Evening Mail' and the 'Irish Press'.
