Société des Missions Africaines – Province d'Irlande

né le 15 mai 1911 à Blackwater dans le diocèse de Portsmouth, Angleterre membre de la SMA le 19 juin 1932 prêtre le 21 décembre 1935 décédé le 7 juillet 1961

1938-1943 missionnaire en Nigeria occidentale 1943-1946 Dromantine, supérieur et professeur 1946-1952 Dromantine, vice supérieur et professeur 1952-1959 Dromantine, professeur 1959-1961 Blackrock Road, Cork décédé à Dublin, Irlande, le 7 juillet 1961, à l’âge de 50 ans

Le père Alfred Michael GLYNN (1911 - 1961)

A Dublin (Irlande), le 7 juillet 1961, retour à Dieu du père Alfred Glynn, à l'âge de 50 ans.

Alfred Michael Glynn naquit à Blackwater, dans le diocèse de Portsmouth, en Angleterre, en 1911. Il fit ses études à Ballinafad, Wilton et au noviciat de Kilcogan, où il fit le serment en 1932. L'abbé Glynn fut alors envoyé au collège irlandais à Rome. Il allait y rester jusqu'en 1938, sortant avec les diplômes de licencié en théologie et en écriture sainte, et le grade de docteur en droit canon. Il fréquentait l'université du Latran. C'est à Rome qu'il fut ordonné prêtre en 1935.

En 1938, le père Glynn fut nommé au vicariat de la Nigeria Occidentale. Il y laissa le meilleur souvenir. Apprenant sa mort, les anciens disaient, en faisant claquer leur langue, selon la coutume: "Ah! Ah! C'était un bon, un bon père".

En 1943, le père Glynn revenait en Irlande comme supérieur et professeur du grand séminaire de Dromantine. En 1946, il laissait sa place de supérieur, restant vice-supérieur et professeur de dogme et d'histoire. Le père Glynn était un grand intellectuel, un grand travailleur. Mais ses milliers d'heures passées en études abstraites ne l'avaient pas rendu indifférent: chacun trouvait en lui un grand accueil, une grande bonté. Le père Glynn avait un langage chaleureux et il avait le don d'enthousiasmer son monde.

Le père Glynn continua ses cours à Dromantine jusqu'en 1959, année où il alla à Blackrock Road. Il mourut à l'hôpital Saint-Vincent, à Dublin.

Father Alfred Michael GLYNN (1911 - 1961)

Alfred Glynn was born at Blackwater, Hants, England, in the diocese of Portsmouth, on 15 May 1911. The family address given at the time Alfred joined the Society was 11 Upland Road, Camberley, Surrey. However he grew up at Brackernagh, Ballinasloe, Co Galway. He died in St. Vincent's nursing home, Dublin, on 7 July 1961.

Alfred (Alfie) Glynn was baptised in the parish of Kilcooney, Ballinasloe, in the diocese of Clonfert. He studied at the Sacred Heart college, Ballinafad, Co Mayo (1926 1927) and St. Joseph's college, Wilton, Cork (1927 1930), before entering the Society's novitiate and house of philosophy at Kilcolgan, Co Galway, in the autumn of 1930. He was sent to the Irish college, Rome, for his theological training, attending the Lateran University. He remained there until 1938 during which time he was awarded a B.D. degree (1934), a Licentiate in theology (1936) and a doctorate in theology (1938). His doctoral thesis was entitled 'Dr Johannis Sinnichii Rigorismo', dealing with the Irish theologian John Sinnich (+1603). Alfie was received as a member of the Society on 19 June 1932 and was ordained a priest in St. John Lateran's Basilica, Rome, on 21 December 1935. The identity of the ordaining prelate is uncertain but most probably it was Archbishop Traglia who normally dispensed the sacrament at that time.

In 1938 Alfie was appointed to the vicariate of Western Nigeria, the first mission in Nigeria entrusted to the Irish Province, when Thomas Broderick was appointed vicar apostolic in 1918. On his arrival in October 1938, Alfie was posted to the district of Asaba, which was the headquarters of the jurisdiction. Eugene Strub, an Alsatian member of the Society, was superior and the other priests in the district were Pat Braniff and Joseph Erameh, a Nigerian priest who had been ordained in 1936. Alfie was appointed procurator for the vicariate, responsible for its financial administration. In 1939, with the transfer of the vicar apostolic, Leo Hale Taylor, to Lagos, Patrick J. Kelly took charge of the jurisdiction. One of Bishop Taylor's last acts before his translation was to transfer the headquarters of the vicariate to Benin City. At the same time he transferred St. Paul's major seminary from Asaba to Benin City. This institution, opened in 1927, provided training for seminarians from all jurisdictions in the south-west, west and north of Nigeria. Alfie, too, came to Benin City, becoming Bishop Kelly's secretary. In December 1941 he was appointed vice-superior of the seminary, assisting Tommy Murray. A report by the 'visitor' to the Provincial on the state of the seminary, dated May 1942, recorded that 'Fr. Murray is about the best superior of the seminary we've had so far and his assistant, Dr. Glynn, is an able man, very active and practical. They are doing very well. You can well imagine how Dr. Glynn revels in expounding the "Knots" of theology. Both he and Fr. Murray are good holy priests, gifted with common sense and plenty humour. They help Fr. (John) Mahon in Benin City parish at the week-ends and get ample opportunities to apply "the principles".

In 1943 Alfie returned to Ireland as superior and professor of senior dogmatic theology in the major seminary at Dromantine. At the time there were some 60 students receiving their theological formation. From 1946 he was vice superior of the seminary and in addition to dogmatic theology taught Church history and elocution. As a professor in Dromantine, he strove to give of his very best. A compassionate man, he was always very concerned about the well-being of the students and would lend a truly attentive ear whenever called upon. He found time, too, to do research into the history of Dromantine Castle and had it written up before he left Dromantine. His papers in the Society's archives at Blackrock Road include three articles written in 1941 under the title 'Our Catholic Homes', dealing with Christian marriage in Nigeria. There is also a very thorough survey of traditional marriage custom in Nigeria, dealing particularly with financial aspects, the nature of the contract, the dowry, and the rights and obligations of husband and wife. This study is entitled: 'This Marriage Business'.

In June 1959 Alfie was appointed to the propaganda office and public oratory in the Province's headquarters at Blackrock Road, Cork. He had history of continuing heart ailments and died after an operation in St. Vincent's nursing home, Dublin, on July 6th. He bequeathed his valuable library to Dromantine.

He is buried in Wilton cemetery.