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Letter from the Most Rev. Jeremiah Kinane, Bishop of Waterford and Lismore, to Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap., Provincial Minister, re the inclusion of the centenary of the inauguration of the total abstinence campaign in the Bishop’s Lenten Pastoral Letters. With a typescript reply from Fr. Colman.

Letters of Fr. Fintan Roche OFM Cap. (1898-1953) relating to his experiences as a missionary in Barotseland. The correspondents include Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap.; Fr. Kieran O’Callaghan OFM Cap.; Fr. Edwin Fitzgibbon OFM Cap., Provincial Minister. Reference is made to the work of Fr. Killian Flynn OFM Cap. who is in ‘some God-forsaken native village about 9 days from here building a school [and to] Fr. Phelim [O’Shea OFM Cap.] and Fr. Seraphin [Nesdale OFM Cap.] in Loanja’. (11 Dec. 1933). Later, Fr. Fintan refers to the establishment of further mission stations around Mongu and ‘other remote centres … where we won’t conflict with already established Protestant missions’. He also affirmed that ‘Barotseland is not “virgin soil”, it is chuck full of Protestant Missions, some of them 30 days by river from Livingstone’ (20 June 1934).

Letters of Fr. Casimir Butler OFM Cap. (1876-1958). The correspondents include: Fr. Edwin Fitzgibbon OFM Cap., Provincial Minister, Fr. Kieran O’Callaghan OFM Cap.; Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap., Provincial Vicar. Most of the correspondence relates to the establishment of missions in South Africa and later in Barotseland, Northern Rhodesia. The subjects include: Fr. Casimir’s first impressions of Cape Province (23 Oct. 1929); the journey to Barotseland (30 May 1930); requesting permission to retain Parow parish (26 Feb. 1931); discussions with Monsignor Bruno Wolnik SJ (1882-1960) to establish a local mission a few miles from Livingstone (16 June 1931); the necessity of wearing a white habit. Fr. Casimir wrote: ‘It is almost impossible to wear brown during the hot weather. The Conventual Fathers at Ndola wear white. The Jesuits wear any old things. I suggest a light cream-coloured habit’ (27 Nov. 1931); the need to speak the language in Barotseland ‘before we can hope to gain the hearts of the natives’. (30 Nov. 1931); on the study of the Lozi language (26 Jan. 1932); suggesting that a foundation be established in Barotseland ‘to which Catholics can look to with pride – a large church and school, sufficient for a fifty-mile area’. (3 May 1932); affirming that ‘mission work in Barotseland is going to be a slow business, the obstacles look insurmountable’. Fr. Casimir added: ‘it is a great consolation to know that it can never become a white man’s country’ (23 May 1932); confirming that the new church at Livingstone will cost £3,500 (6 Sept. 1932); referring to the work of Fr. Declan McFadden OFM Cap. and his father (30 Oct. 1932); arrangements for the impending visitation by Fr. James O’Mahony OFM Cap. (3 Dec. 1934); the activities of the Paris Evangelical Missionary Society. (18 Dec. 1934); Fr. Casimir’s arrangements to travel to Ireland via Marseilles on-board the Italian ship, SS 'Giulio Cesare' (5 May 1938). References are also made to the following Capuchin friars: Fr. Oliver O’Hanlon OFM Cap.; Fr. Killian Flynn OFM Cap.; Fr. Seraphin Nesdale OFM Cap.; Fr. Timothy Phelim O’Shea OFM Cap.; Fr. Declan McFadden OFM Cap. The file includes a letter from Fr. C. C. Martindale SJ to Fr. Cuthbert McCann OFM Cap. offering to collect £100 for Fr. Casimir’s missionary work in Barotseland (16 June 1931).

• Flier for the centenary celebration of the inauguration of the temperance apostolate of Fr. Theobald Mathew OSFC. 10 Apr. 1938. The flier refers to a solemn mass of thanksgiving celebrated by the Most Rev. Dr. Paschal Robinson OFM, Apostolic Nuncio, and to a centenary meeting at the Mansion House, Dublin, where An Taoiseach, Éamon de Valera, presided. 4 copies. Printed. 1 p.
• Letter from Thomas Powell, President of the Aberdare & District Temperance Council, to the Capuchin friars passing on his congratulations on the occasion of the centenary of the establishment of the temperance movement by Fr. Theobald Mathew OSFC. 5 Apr. 1938. Manuscript, 1 p.
• Letters from the Catholic Total Abstinence Union, Boston, to the Capuchin friars regarding events to mark anniversaries associated with Fr. Mathew’s temperance Campaign. 30 Sept. 1933-30 Mar. 1938. Manuscript, 2 pp.
• Letter from Fr. J. Flinn SJ to Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap. regarding a request to have a Capuchin father give an address at the annual general meeting of the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association of the Sacred Heart in Dublin to mark the centenary of the inauguration of Fr. Mathew’s temperance campaign. 11 Aug. 1938. Manuscript, 2 pp.
• Souvenir programme for the Father Mathew Centenary Celebrations at Thomastown Castle, County Tipperary, on 19 June 1938. Printed, 2 pp. 2 copies.
• Telegram from the Most Rev. Vigilius a Valstagna OFM Cap., Minister General, to Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap., Provincial Minster, on the occasion of the centenary of inauguration of the temperance campaign by Fr. Mathew. 7 Apr. 1938. Typescript, 1 p.
• Telegram from Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli to Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap., Provincial Minister, conveying an Apostolic Benediction on the occasion of the centenary of inauguration of the temperance campaign by Fr. Mathew. 7 Apr. 1938. Typescript, 1 p.

Correspondence of Fr. Edwin Fitzgibbon OFM Cap., and Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap., with Robert F. Mahony, President, American Association for Recognition of the Irish Republic; Fr. Brendan O’Callaghan OFM Cap., Central Council of Irish County Associations; Eugene Twomey, Secretary, Fianna Fail, Inc., Irish Republican Party of America; Charles F. Tiernan; Joseph O’Byrne of the Fathers’ Albert & Dominic Committee; and the Irish American National Alliance. The letters refer to appeals from various Irish-American republican organizations calling for the repatriation to Ireland of the mortal remains of Fathers Albert Bibby OFM Cap. and Dominic O’Connor OFM Cap.

Letter from Joseph I. Bowe, jnr., 32 Addison Road, Dublin to Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap., Provincial Minister, seeking permission to rename Addison Road, ‘Fr. Dominic Road’ in memory ‘of that patriotic priest who died in 1935 at Oregon, USA, where he had been obliged to go into exile’. With a copy reply from Fr. Colman stating that he has no objection to the proposal.