Item 8/1/4/9 - Overseas Missions: Vicariate:

Overseas Missions: Vicariate: Johannesburg: copy letter from Fergus Loughrey, C.P., to the Mission Secretary General, Rome, Caspar Caulfield, C.P.,Outlines the general situation re the proposed foundation in Johannesburg. The property offered is 300 acres in extent. It is offered as a Retreat of the Congregation and is not thought of at the moment as mission ( Bechuanaland ) ( Botswana ) property. The new township of Carltonville is situated about 10 miles from the property, which the Bishop wants the Passionists to look after. Wrong to think of the new foundation as the See-City for the Bechuanaland (Botswana) Mission; the idea of a South African Province and an overseas Mission should be two distinct possibilities. The parish priests, living in a seperate residence at Carltonville, would need a rescript of exclaustrarion. No great fears re confusion in financial administration, as every effort would be made to keep diocesan and Congregational rights seperate. Whatever be decided, the Province could scarcely take on the new retreat unless we also had the parish and such financial advantages that would help until we were more firmly established.