Société des Missions Africaines –Province d'Irlande

né le 28 août 1902 à Ballinlough dans le diocèse de Cork, Irlande membre de la SMA le 17 juillet 1924 prêtre le 10 juin 1928 décédé le 11 mai 1971

1929-1942 missionnaire en Nigeria Occidentale diocèse de Benin City Ibusa, Warri, Asaba, Ibadan 1946-1951 missionnaire en Egypte Héliopolis 1954-1967 missionnaire en Nigeria, Kaduna, Zaria 1967-1971 Blackrock Road, Cork décédé à Cork, Irlande, le 11 mai 1971, à l'âge de 69 ans

John O'Shea was born in Ballinlough, Cork (the family address was 'Rosedale', Ballinlough Road), on 28 August 1902. He died at St. Finbarr's hospital, Cork, on 11 May 197l.

John (Jack), known as 'Johannes' by his confrères, had two younger brothers in the Society, Frank (born 1910) and Kevin (born 1908), and a sister, Sr. Mary Teresita, in the Mercy Convent, Kinsale. Jack studied in the Sacred Heart college, Ballinafad, Co Mayo (1918 1919) and St. Joseph's college, Wilton, Cork (1919 1922), before entering the Society's novitiate and house of philosophy, at Kilcolgan, Co Galway, in the autumn of 1922. He studied theology at St. Joseph's seminary, Blackrock Road, Cork, and at Dromantine, Co Down, to which the seminary was transferred in 1926. Jack was received as a member of the Society on 17 July 1924. He was ordained a priest by Bishop Edward Mulhern of Dromore diocese, at St. Colman's cathedral, Newry, on 10 June 1928. He was one of a group of nine ordained on that day.

After ordination Jack was appointed to the vicariate of Western Nigeria, the first mission in Nigeria to be entrusted to the Province when Thomas Broderick was appointed vicar apostolic in 1918. Jack's first appointment, given to him by Bishop Broderick, was to the founding staff of St. Thomas' teacher training college, which was established to provide teachers for the vicariate's rapidly expanding elementary school network. Jack was appointed vice principal of this important institution, which began with 30 students, under Val Barnicle, the founder principal. In 1931 Jack was appointed 'parish priest' of Ibusa, ministering to a Catholic community of some 2,500 members and 250 catechumens. In 1933 he was transferred to Warri district. Jack came to Ireland on his first home leave early in 1934. In February of the same year Leo Hale Taylor became vicar apostolic (on the death of Bishop Broderick). On his return from leave Jack was appointed superior of St. Paul's major inter vicarial seminary at Asaba. The other members of staff were Eugene Strub, Martin Bane and Phil Mahon. There were 15 seminarians from several jurisdictions, three studying theology, seven studying philosophy and five learning Latin. This institution was to be transferred from Asaba to Benin City in 1938, and subsequently (in 1956) to Ibadan. It produced almost all the indigenous clergy for south west, west and northern Nigeria until the establishment of a seminary in the north in 1968. Today the old St. Paul's seminary, now renamed after Saints Peter and Paul, has a student enrolment in excess of 300 and is located in two centres at Ibadan and Ekpoma.

Jack went on his second home leave in October 1938. On his return he was appointed to Kabba district where he was to serve until September 1942 when he again went on home leave. Jack reached Ireland in poor health. Bishop Patrick J. Kelly (who had succeeded Bishop Taylor in 1939) noted that he had suffered from chronic dysentery towards the end of his tour of duty. Stephen Harrington, the Provincial, decided to keep Jack at home for a period, in order to restore his health. He was stationed in the Province's headquarters at Blackrock Road, where he helped in the work of promotion. In December 1946, fit once more for overseas service, Jack went to Egypt, to the vicariate of the Nile Delta, where the Province was responsible for four 'English' schools. Jack was posted to St. Paul's college, Alexandria, which had been opened by the Irish Province for the British Council in 1940. This secondary school, which had some 120 students, mainly of Cypriot and Maltese nationality, was situated at 72 rue Sidi Abil Dardaa, and was owned by the British Council. St. Paul's was closed in 1949, after which Jack joined the staff of St. George's Anglo Copt college, at 15 Sharia Quait Bey, Heliopolis a much larger school with almost 400 pupils.

In 1951 Jack returned to Blackrock Road where he assisted in the work of propaganda. In September 1954 he took up a new appointment, in the diocese of Kaduna, in northern Nigeria. Jack was to spend 13 years in Kaduna. He spent much of this time on the staff of St. John's secondary college in Kaduna town. This school had perhaps 300 pupils preparing for the West African school certificate examination (equivalent to leaving certificate in Ireland). Jack also assisted in the cathedral parish. In 1960 Jack was appointed to Zaria mission where he joined William Byrne (superior) and John Glackin. In June 1967 Jack was invalided home to Blackrock Road. In May 1971 he entered Shanakiel hospital, Cork and was transferred to St. Finbarr's hospital on the day of his death.

Jack was a man about whom stories, fact and fiction, abounded and endured long after his years in western Nigeria. He was a man of many interests. Repairing clocks was his great hobby. He was also skilled with the pen, a frequent contributor of articles to the African Missionary. But above all he made his mark in the work of education and priestly formation.

He is buried in Wilton cemetery.