A draft schema for the compilation of the Ard Mhuire Friary archives. The schema was devised by Fr. Angelus Healy OFM Cap. and refers to some of the foundational documents which should be obtained and secured for safe keeping. Reference is made to documents from the Land Commission, correspondence with the Bishop of Raphoe and letters from the Capuchin General Minister re the establishment of a novitiate at Ard Mhuire.
A letter from Dermot MacIntyre to Fr. David Kelleher OFM Cap. referring to the history of the former Stewart-Bam residence in Ards. An extract from the letter reads: 'In regard to Ards and Ards House, I have just found an old notebook of my father’s. He used to jot down bits and pieces on anything to hand and in this old notebook he has an entry dated, Friday, December 30, 1910. He writes: "Was at a dance in Ards House last night given by Sir Pieter Bam. Charlie Coll and I played for them. Bam came in about 9 o’clock. I did not like it all but would rather be in the poorest thatch house in Doe, with the Gaelic sounding round me, than in the midst of it all. Bam does his best to unbend, but it is plainly an effort and he seems to know himself that it won’t be successful. His wife is outrageously proud. She sat all the time like an incarnate goddess and noticed no one. Such pride is a sin against Heaven. You would think the ordinary people were less than dogs to her. Her sister is not one whit better"'. Further extracts from his father’s journal refer to the landlord’s relationships with the workers and tenants on the Ards estate, to the histories of various local churches, to a Feis at Doe Castle in 1910, and to the building of the Lough Swilly railway in Donegal.
Letter from Colette Gallagher to Fr. Eustace McSweeney OFM Cap., guardian, Ard Mhuire Friary, conveying a local tradition re the existence of a ‘half-way house between Ards Friary and Rossnowlagh’.
Copy of the Lenten Pastoral Letter (with Lenten Regulations) from the Most Rev. William MacNeely (1888-1963), Bishop of Raphoe, for 1932. The file also includes printed Lenten Regulations for the diocese for 1964 and 1967.
A vocations’ flier for the House of Theological Studies at Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary. It is noted that ‘since 1932 Ard Mhuire has produced well over a hundred priests. They are now labouring on the Irish Capuchin foreign mission in Africa, in the United States of America, and at home in Ireland’. The flier also has a photographic print of the exterior of the old Ard Mhuire Friary (formerly Ards House).
Report on the Conference of Ordinaries of Northern Rhodesia held in Lusaka in April 1945. The attendees included Monsignor Killian Flynn OFM Cap., Prefect Apostolic of Victoria Falls, and Fr. Timothy Phelim O’Shea OFM Cap. For the most part, the conference dealt with issues related to the provision of Catholic education in the country.
Copy report by Fr. Killian Flynn OFM Cap. on the mission of Livingstone-Barotseland in the Prefecture of Broken Hill, Northern Rhodesia. The report is divided into the following sections: I. Situation, area, population etc. II. Historical Survey I. Prior to the coming of the Capuchin Fathers II. Coming of the Capuchin Fathers Livingstone Loanja Loanja Out-Schools Momba Mulobezi III. Applications for New Stations Translations of Catechisms IV. Details and Statistics Babemba Church and School, Livingstone Church of the Little Flower, Livingstone Barotse Church and School, Livingstone Loanja Momba Mulobezi V. Sphere of Influence of each Station Loanja Kabompo Lumbi VI. Method of Converting the Locals Results Secured VII. Working of Schools Babemba school, police camp, Livingstone Zambesi Saw-Mills Compound School, Livingstone School at Loanja Mission School at Saw-Mills Compound, Mulobezi VIII. Difficulties Hampering Work Influence of Protestant Missionaries Poverty of Districts Transport IX. Prospects for the Future X. Tribes XI. Languages XII. Financial Outlay of Mission from Beginning A manuscript note by Fr. Edwin Fitzgibbon OFM Cap. reads: ‘This amount does not include monies spent in building church and schools in Athlone parish and church in Parow parish, South Africa, amounting to over £7,000’.
Copy report by Monsignor Killian Flynn OFM Cap. on the Livingstone-Barotseland Mission for Fr. Virgilio de Valstagna OFM Cap., Minister General. With a cover letter to Fr. Edwin Fitzgibbon OFM Cap., Provincial Minister. The report notes that the mission is intended to be raised to the status of a Prefecture. The report is divided into the following sections: Territory Population Local Tribes and Languages Towns Government Non-Catholic Missions Other Sects Religious Beliefs of the Europeans Attitude towards Catholicism Education in Barotseland and Livingstone Historical Resume of Capuchin Endeavour a. Livingstone b. Barotseland c. Early Mission Policy d. Teachers and Catechists e. Turn in the Tide f. In the Lealui District g. In the Senanga District Material Grand Total Mission Difficulties Summarised Mission Prospects Conclusion
Report on the Canonical Visitation of the Prefecture of Victoria Falls Mission, Northern Rhodesia, by Fr. James O’Mahony OFM Cap., Provincial Minister. With a copy cover letter addressed to Fr. Clement Neubauer OFM Cap., Minister General. The report on missionary activity is arranged under the following headings: I. Historical Development a. Origins b. Territory c. Primary Stations II. Missionary Approach a. Education b. Catholic Schools c. Preparatory Seminary d. African Religious Vocations III. Mission Prospects a. Difficulties b. Advantages c. Personnel d. Conclusion Livingstone: Church of St. Therese a. Spiritual Matters and Horarium b. Material Matters – Friary, Church and Schools c. Financial Matters Maramba: Station of Christ the King a. Spiritual Matters and Horarium b. Material Matters – Friary, Church and Schools c. Financial Matters Sichili: Station of Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen a. Spiritual Matters and Horarium b. Material Matters – Friary, Church and Schools c. Financial Matters Mongu – Lealui a. Spiritual Matters and Horarium b. Material Matters – Friary, Church and Schools c. Financial Matters Mankoya: Station of St. Joseph a. Spiritual Matters and Horarium b. Material Matters – Friary, Church and Schools c. Financial Matters Kalabo: Station of St. Patrick a. Spiritual Matters and Horarium b. Material Matters – Friary, Church and Schools c. Financial Matters Katima Mulilo (Caprivi Strip, South West Africa) a. Spiritual Matters and Horarium b. Material Matters – Friary, Church and Schools c. Financial Matters Senanga: Station of St. Peter and St. Paul (Sioma) Mongu: Station of St. Francis of Assisi a. Spiritual Matters and Horarium b. Material Matters – Friary, Church and Schools c. Financial Matters The report includes statistical forms re the personnel of the Victoria Falls Prefecture and notes re the ‘actual disposition of missionaries’ at the various mission stations. With financial statements and annual accounts re the mission for the years 1946-7 and 1947-8.
