Société des Missions Africaines – Province d’Irlande

né le 16 avril 1905 à Coolanuller dans le diocèse de Ross, Irlande membre de la SMA le 8 juillet 1925 prêtre le 9 juin 1929 décédé le 7 novembre 1935

1929-1935 missionnaire en Nigeria septentrionale décédé à Jos, Nigeria, le 7 novembre 1935, à l’âge de 30 ans

A Jos (Nigeria), le 7 novembre 1935, retour à Dieu du père Florence O'Driscoll, à l'âge de 30 ans.

Florence O'Driscoll naquit dans le diocèse de Ross, en Irlande, en 1905. Il fit le serment en 1925 et fut ordonné prêtre en 1929. Nommé en la préfecture de la Nigeria Septentrionale, il s'appliqua beaucoup à l'étude de la langue haoussa.

D'un caractère actif et entreprenant, le père O'Driscoll était un homme d'un excellent jugement pratique. Aussi, lorsque, après l'érection de la nouvelle préfecture de Jos, en 1934, il fut question de désigner un visiteur, les supérieurs de la Société firent choix du père O'Driscoll, qui avait toute leur confiance. Le Seigneur ne permit pas que le père donne toute sa mesure, et le rappela à Lui.

Father Florence Alphonsus O'DRISCOLL (1905 - 1935)

Florence O'Driscoll was born at Coolanuller, Aughadown, Skibbereen, Co Cork, in the diocese of Ross, on 16 April 1905. He died at Jos, northern Nigeria, on 7 November 1935.

Florence (Florrie) studied at the Sacred Heart college, Ballinafad, Co Mayo (1918 1920) and St. Joseph's college, Wilton, Cork (1920 1923), before entering the Society's novitiate and house of philosophy, at Kilcolgan, Co Galway. In the autumn of 1925 Florrie commenced his study of theology in St Joseph's seminary, Blackrock Road, Cork, and completed his training at Dromantine, Co Down to which the seminary was transferred in 1926. He took his oath of membership on 8 July 1925, and was ordained a priest by Bishop Edward Mulhern of Dromore diocese, at St. Colman's cathedral, Newry, Co Down, on 9 June 1929. He was one of a group of fifteen ordained on that day.

After ordination Florrie was appointed to the prefecture of Northern Nigeria. This prefecture was relatively new, having been first erected under another name in 1911. It developed out of explorations conducted from the mid 1880's, culminating in the establishment of a mission at Shendam in 1907. In 1922 the borders of the prefecture were greatly enlarged and its headquarters were changed from Shendam to Kano. When Florrie arrived Francis O'Rourke (later bishop at Lagos) was prefect apostolic, although he was to be replaced within a year by William Porter (later archbishop in the Gold Coast, now Ghana). A further development was to take place in 1934 when the prefecture was divided into two independent jurisdictions: the prefecture of Jos, with its capital at Jos, and the prefecture of Kaduna, with its capital at Kaduna. Florrie was to be incorporated into the Jos prefecture, under William Lumley.

Florrie's first appointment was to the historic Sacred Heart mission at Shendam, where Celestin Monpoint was superior. There were some 77 Catholics and 24 catechumens attached to this mission and its seven secondary stations. In addition there was a vernacular teacher training college, which trained teachers for the prefecture's growing number of elementary schools. Students in this college were taught through the medium of Hausa. After a year Fr. Monpoint was sent to Kwande, in Ankwe territory, to found a new station and Florrie was placed in charge at Shendam, with William Gannon as his assistant. Florrie went on his first home leave in June 1933. Returning to Nigeria a year later, he was re-appointed to Shendam. Despite his many duties, Florrie managed to find time to translate a catechism into Hausa and, according to a colleague, 'was nearly worn out searching for confirmation of his translations in the theological books available to him'. In July 1935 Florrie was nominated visitor, responsible for the welfare of the confreres, and took up his residence in Jos. His colleagues, who had been consulted by the Provincial on the appointment, were enthusiastic about the choice and full of expectations. However, later in the same year, the prefecture was devastated when Florrie (who was a man of splendid physique) died, struck down by typhoid fever.

His obituary, published in the African Missionary, reveals him as a dedicated and industrious missionary, with considerable gifts which were put to full use during the short time allotted to him. 'An early mastery of the native language, the result of earnest application, aided by good linguistic ability, enabled him to come into intimate contact with the most important mission problems and in a short time he was engaged in compiling and editing catechisms and school books in the vernacular. His eager zeal displayed itself in the management of the large district over which he was placed (Shendam) and which he was steadily penetrating with mission stations and schools. Charge of the recently established training college also devolved upon him and into it he had already gathered young men of twelve different tribes ...'.

Florrie was 30 years old when he died and it is probable that had he lived on he would have achieved high office either in Africa or within the Society, although he would have sought nothing of the kind. In the event, during his short life he was to make an important contribution to his mission, while in death he was to serve as an inspiration to those he left after him. His death was evidently peaceful, according to Mgr. Lumley's report to Cork: 'After an internal haemorrhage on Sunday the 3rd we anointed him and he was perfectly at peace, with no worries of any kind. He went into a coma on Tuesday and died on Thursday morning'.

He is buried in the European cemetery, Jos, northern Nigeria.