Société des Missions Africaines –Province d'Irlande

né le 13 août 1911 à Ballintemple dans le diocèse de Cork, Irlande membre de la SMA le 1er juillet 1934 prêtre le 13 décembre 1937 décédé le 3 mars 1969

1935-1959 missionnaire dans le diocèse de Kaduna, Nigeria 1959-1960 animation missionnaire en Irlande 1961-1964 missionnaire dans le diocèse de Kaduna 1964-1969 malade décédé à Cork, Irlande, le 3 mars 1969 à l'âge de 58 ans

John Connolly was born in Ballintemple, Cork, on 13 August 1911. He died, after a long illness, in St. Patrick's hospital, Cork, on 3 March 1969.

John (Jack) received his early education in Cork, completing his secondary schooling at the Sacred Heart college, Ballinafad, Co Mayo (September December, 1929), and at St. Joseph's college, Wilton, Cork (1930 1932). He entered the Society's novitiate and house of philosophy, at Kilcolgan, Co Galway, in the autumn of 1932. Two years later, on 1 July 1934, he was received as a member of the Society, and went on to the Society's seminary, at Dromantine, Co Down, for his theological formation. Jack was ordained a priest by Bishop Edward Mulhern of Dromore diocese, at St. Colman's cathedral, Newry, on 19 December 1937. He was one of a group of fifteen ordained on that day.

After ordination Jack was appointed to the prefecture of Kaduna, in northern Nigeria. This prefecture was formed four years before Jack's ordination, in 1934, when the vast territory of northern Nigeria was divided into two ecclesiastical jurisdictions, with their headquarters at Kaduna and Jos. Jack worked in the Kaduna jurisdiction continuously between 1938 and 1959. His first appointment, made by the prefect, Thomas Hughes, was to Masuga district, near Kontagora in Niger Province. The principal station of the district, Masuga, was established in the year of Jack's ordination, under the patronage of St. Columban, with Martin McDonnell as first superior. When Jack took up his appointment, Masuga district had a Catholic community of 20 Catholics, but there were almost 100 catechumens, holding out hope for the future. In 1944 Jack managed to obtain a sea passage back to Ireland for his first home leave.

He returned to his mission in 1945, where the new prefect, John McCarthy (nominated in 1943), appointed him superior at Masuga. Liam O'Callaghan and Patrick Balfe were his assistant priests and by now the early promise was being realized: there were in excess of 400 Catholics, almost 500 catechumens and 16 secondary stations. Jack went on home leave in 1949, returning to Nigeria, to Masuga district which had been renamed the district of Kontagora. In 1954 Jack was appointed to Abuja district, where the principal station was Gawu, founded in 1937. In September 1958 Jack was invalided home to Ireland. After convalescing he was declared fit for work and between February 1959 and April 1961 he helped to promote the Society and its missions, residing at Blackrock Road. He returned to Kaduna (by then an archdiocese), to Kontagora district, in April 1961. Three years later, in 1964, he was invalided home.

During his years in Africa Jack ministered not only in Masuga, Kontagora and Gawu, but also in Zaria, Kurmin-Mazuga and Kaduna town. He was a man of great energy who in his earlier years put all his efforts into starting 'schools', more correctly 'classes of religious instruction'. This work was a wearing and frustrating business; after a very few years these schools, nearly all in the old Niger Province, disappeared without trace. After a time he recognised that direct evangelisation was called for with a view to forming solidly based local Catholic communities. He undertook this work with great energy and success, visiting people in their villages and homes, winning their confidence and leading them to know the Gospel. His reputation for what is now called 'primary evangelisation' was widely acknowledged. However the long years of labour in the tropics eventually took their toll on his health and in 1964 he was invalided home. He spent his last years, in deteriorating health, with his family on the Blackrock Road.

Jack was very interested in the theory and practice of missions. While stationed at Gawu he wrote a lengthy article for The African Angelus, the journal of the American Province, giving his ideas. The text of this article, which ranged over the whole canvass of missionary endeavour, provides testimony to the quality of his thinking.

He is buried in Wilton cemetery.