Société des Missions Africaines – Province dIrlande

né le 13 décembre 1907 à Ballavara dans le diocèse d’Ossory, Irlande membre de la SMA le 3 juillet 1928 prêtre le 4 juin 1932 décédé le 11 juin 1952

1932-1952 missionnaire au Nigeria décédé à Cork, Irlande, le 11 juin 1952, à l’âge de 45 ans

A Cork (Irlande), le 11 juin 1952, retour à Dieu du père Philip Mahon, à l'âge de 45 ans.

Philip Mahon naquit dans le diocèse d'Ossory (Irlande) en 1907. Il fit ses études dans les maisons de la Société en Irlande. Il fit le serment en 1928 et fut ordonné prêtre en 1932. Le père Mahon fut nommé au vicariat de la Nigeria Occidentale, lequel devait devenir le diocèse de Benin City en 1950. C'est dans cette région que le père Mahon travailla presque 20 ans. Sa mort fut une lourde perte pour le diocèse de Benin City, où il était vénéré et respecté de tous. Dans les dernières années, la santé du père, qui avait toujours été robuste, donna des marques d'épuisement, dû au long séjour dans un climat débilitant. il mourut à Cork, en la maison du Bon Secours.

Father Philip MAHON (1907 - 1952)

Philip Mahon was born at Ballavara, the Rower, Co Kilkenny, in the diocese of Ossory, on 13 December 1907. He died in the Bon Secours home, Cork, on 11 June 1952.

Philip (Phil) was educated in the colleges of the Society. He studied at the Sacred Heart college, Ballinafad, Co Mayo (1922 1923) and St. Joseph's college, Wilton, Cork (1924 1926) before entering the novitiate and house of philosophy, at Kilcolgan, Co Galway, in the autumn of 1926. He studied theology in the Society's major seminary, at Dromantine, Co Down between 1928 1932. Phil was admitted to membership of the Society on 3 July 1928 and was ordained a priest by Bishop Edward Mulhern of Dromore diocese, in St. Colman's cathedral, Newry, on 12 June 1932. He was one of a group of eight ordained on that day.

After ordination Phil was appointed to the vicariate of Western Nigeria, which was the first mission in Nigeria to be entrusted to the Irish Province, in 1918. On his arrival, in October 1932, Phil was appointed to the staff of St. Paul's major seminary at Asaba. This institution, opened in 1927, provided training for seminarians from all jurisdictions in the south-west, west and north of Nigeria. When John came on the staff Eugene Strub, an Alsatian member of the Society, was superior. There were 12 seminarians, one studying theology, seven studying philosophy and four 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. In 1934 Leo Hale Taylor, who had been nominated vicar apostolic in the same year, appointed Phil to St. Thomas' teacher training college, at Ibusa. John Heaney was principal, with Charles Canavan as vice-principal. A year later Phil returned to the seminary staff at Asaba, serving first under Fr. Strub and then John O'Shea. In addition to his teaching duties he was procurator for the vicariate, responsible for its financial administration.

When Phil went on his first leave to Ireland in October 1936 there were 18 students in the Asaba seminary. On his return a year later he was posted to Warri district. In June 1938 he was appointed superior of Ozoro (Usoro) district, where he was to spend many years. Together with his assistant priest, Michael Foley, he looked after a catholic community of almost 2,000 members and 600 catechumens. Much of his ministry involved visiting the existing thirty-six far-flung secondary stations and founding additional ones.

In 1939 Bishop Taylor was transferred to the Lagos jurisdiction and was succeeded by Patrick J. Kelly. Four years later the vicariate was renamed 'the vicariate of Asaba-Benin. Phil spent the war years in Ozoro, transferring to Ashaka, which became the new headquarters of the district, in November 1940. In 1942 the army authorities in Lagos were anxious to have him as a chaplain, but he had already spent five years on his second tour of duty and he declined the offer. The 'visitor' Sexton Cahill (who was to die in Warri four months later, aged 36) reported to the Provincial in May 1942 that Phil was 'a very hard-working priest, a good regular holy priest, who has given a good lead to his assistants'. From February 1943 Phil was assisted by Stephen Umurie, a Nigeria priest (a Sobo) ordained the previous December. In May they were joined by a young new arrival from Ireland, William Benedict Nolan. By the end of the year, however, with the re-assignment of his curates to other mission districts, Phil was alone in Ashaka, with little contact with his confreres. He finally went on home leave in May 1946, after a tour of ten years, twice the usual duration and one of the longest tours of duty in the history of the Province (surpassed only by Paddy McKenna [Crossmaglen] who served continuously in Liberia between 1934-1945, and William Lumley who served continuously in Jos [northern Nigeria] between 1934-1952).

When Phil returned to the vicariate a year later, Bishop Kelly appointed him supervisor of catholic schools. This was a key position requiring him to supervise the vicariate's educational apostolate, to oversee the construction of schools, the appointment of teachers, the maintenance of academic standards and, above all, to liaise with the government education department on which subsidies for the construction and running of schools depended. From his base in Benin City, Phil travelled thousands of miles in a pick-up, having with him a small crew - a steward, and two trainees. He put up in mission-house verandahs and in schools in the bush. He descended unexpectedly on schools, checking roll books, pupils' exercise books and absentee teachers. Phil was education supervisor until illness compelled him to leave Nigeria in February 1952. His death, following an operation, at the early age of 45 years, was a heavy blow for the diocese of Benin City, where he was greatly respected by all.

An extremely hard-working, self-sacrificing man, Phil was well respected for his frankness and honesty. He gained a reputation as an intrepid missionary. A confrere records that while stationed in Ashaka parish he became such an indefatigable 'bush-trekker' (serving outstations in remote places) that he earned the name, among the people of the region, as 'Father All-Weather'. A colleague who knew him well wrote: 'Phil was a Trojan worker, very hard on himself. His time was precious, never wasted. He was fearless and a very strong swimmer. As a student Brother Tom Hughes and Phil were the only two known to have swum out and back to the little island in Kinvara Bay (near Kilcolgan). Later on, Phil's canoe capsized in Ashaka waters and he swam to safety, at the same time saving the Mass Box - an extraordinary feat. As a missionary he had the highest standards'. Phil was the younger brother of John Mahon who was ordained for the Society in 1926 and, like Phil, served for many years in mid-western Nigeria. Sister Placidus of the St. John of God's convent, Bunbury, Western Australia, was his sister. Two of his nephews, J. and R. Lyng joined the Augustinian order.

He is buried in Wilton cemetery.