O’Sullivan, Ephrem, 1904-1958, Capuchin priest

John Joseph O’Sullivan was born on 23 March 1904 in the town of Charleville in County Cork. His initial education was in the local national school and later at the Capuchin College in Rochestown, County Cork. He was an active member of the Fianna Éireann organisation in Cork during the War of Independence. He joined the Capuchin Order in Kilkenny in September 1923 and took Ephrem as his religious name. After his ordination in Cork in 1931 he was transferred to the Irish Capuchin mission custody in the Western United States where he ministered for several years. In 1936 he was appointed a pastor in the Sacred Heart parish in Lincoln, Nebraska. He held this position for only one year (1937) since financial difficulties and other considerations forced the Capuchin friars to withdraw from the Lincoln Diocese. After leaving Nebraska he assisted in parish missions and novenas. In 1938 Ephrem returned to Ireland and joined the community residing in St. Mary of the Angels Friary on Church Street in Dublin. He also resided for brief periods in both Kilkenny and in the Ard Mhuire Friary in County Donegal. He died in St. John of God Hospital in Stillorgan, County Dublin, on 12 July 1958 and was buried in Glasnevin Cemetery.

Baptismal name: John Joseph O’Sullivan
Religious name: Fr. Ephrem O’Sullivan OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 20 Mar. 1904
Place of birth: Charleville, County Cork (Diocese of Cloyne)
Name of father: Michael O’Sullivan (Signalman)
Name of mother: Catherine O’Sullivan (née McDermott)
Date of reception into Capuchin Order: 17 Sept. 1923
Date of first profession: 18 Sept. 1924
Date of final profession: 18 Sept. 1927
Date of ordination (as priest): 29 June 1931
Educational attainments: BA, NUI (1927)
Missionary activity: Travelled to the mission custody in the Western United States on 20 Nov. 1932. Returned to Ireland in 1938.
Date of death: 12 July 1958
Place of death: St. John of God Hospital, Stillorgan, County Dublin
Place of burial: Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin