Société des Missions Africaines - Province d’Irlande

né le 26 juillet 1916 à Lisduff dans le diocèse de Elphin, Irlande membre de la SMA le 29 juin 1937 prêtre le 22 décembre 1940 décédé le 11 juin 1992

1941-1944 Blackrock Road, études 1945-1955 diocèse de Benin City 1955-1956 Wilton, études 1957-1968 diocèse de Benin City 1968-1976 Cork, vice provincial 1976-1978 Cork, provincial 1979-1989 archidiocèse de Kaduna 1990-1992 Blackrock Road, Cork, retiré décédé à Cork, Irlande, le 11 juin 1992 à l’âge de 75 ans

Joseph Donnelly was born in Lisduff, Athleague, Co Roscommon, in the diocese of Elphin, on 26 July 1916. He died in the Bon Secours hospital, Cork, on Thursday, 11 June 1992.

Joseph was the fifth son in a family of eight children, born into a farming community about 20 miles west of Athlone. In 1930 Joseph came to the Sacred Heart college, Ballinafad, Co Mayo, to commence his secondary education. After a year he was promoted to the Society's senior secondary college, at St. Joseph's, Wilton, Cork, where he matriculated in 1934. In the following year he remained on in Wilton, attending lectures in U.C.C.'s arts faculty. Joseph entered the Society's novitiate and house of philosophy, at Kilcolgan, Co Galway, in September 1935. He remained there for two years during which, in addition to his ecclesiastical studies, he attended lectures at U.C.G., acquiring an honours B.A. degree (philosophy and education) in June 1937. Joseph received his theological formation in the Society's major seminary, at Dromantine, Co Down (1937-1941). He became a member of the Society on 29 June 1937 and was ordained a priest at St. Colman's cathedral, Newry, by Bishop Edward Mulhern of Dromore diocese, on 22 December 1940. He was one of a group of nineteen ordained on that day.

Joseph was ordained at a time when secondary education was gaining in importance in Nigeria. Science teachers were in great demand and requests from the missionary bishops to have men trained for such work frequently arrived on the desk of the Irish Provincial, Stephen Harrington. Joseph was one of those chosen for such studies, although he already possessed an arts degree. Residing at Wilton he took a science degree in U.C.C., graduating in 1944 (physics and chemistry). Later, in 1955, he was to return to U.C.C. where he received a higher diploma in education.

Joseph's first mission appointment was to the jurisdiction of Asaba-Benin, in mid-western Nigeria, which in April 1950 was erected as the diocese of Benin City. On his arrival in Nigeria, on 20 February 1945, he reported to the vicar apostolic, Patrick J. Kelly, and was posted as curate to Tom Bartley in Holy Cross mission, Benin City. He was also assigned to Immaculate Conception college (I.C.C.), a recently opened secondary school in Benin City which, at the time, had a single class. There, as vice-principal, he taught mathematics, elementary science, religious knowledge and English. In 1946 it became clear that the government would continue to support Immaculate Conception college only as a feeder school for St. Patrick's college (S.P.C.) at Asaba. As a result Bishop Kelly decided to transfer staff and students to Asaba to join up with the 90 students already there. The transfer took place in January 1947. In St. Patrick's Joseph set up and furnished three science laboratories - physics, chemistry and biology. Joseph was to spend a total of five years in S.P.C. (1947-1952), with Andy O'Rourke (the founder-principal), Tony McDonagh, Anselm Ojefua and a growing lay staff.

In 1952, after a temporary appointment as bishop's secretary, Joseph was asked by the bishop to prepare St. Peter Claver's college, Aghalokpe, so that the three classes of this school, currently using primary school classrooms in Sapele, could occupy premises which would meet with government approval. Aghalokpe was about 25 kilometres from Sapele. In late January 1953 the college, which had been founded in 1948 by Mick Scully, re-opened with some 80 pupils (forms 1-1V). Joseph's principal task, apart from teaching English, elementary science, biology and mathematics, was to set up science laboratories. He was also vice-principal to Fr. Scully. After his return from leave in late 1956, during which he completed a higher diploma in education, Joseph returned to become principal of Immaculate Conception college, with the brief to rebuild the college on a larger scale and on a better site.

This was necessary because the bishop's compound, where I.C.C. was situated, was becoming overcrowded - with the seminary, St. Maria Goretti college, primary and modern schools, catechetical training centre and bishop's house and office. Joseph negotiated the acquisition of a new site with His Highness, Akenzua 11, Oba of Benin. Building commenced in 1958, and staff and students moved into the new school in January 1960. Subsequently the college flourished, with sharp increases in student and staff numbers, reaching higher school certificate standard in 1965, and also providing a 2 year course for those wishing to enter third-level education. In all these posts Joseph showed himself not only an excellent teacher, but also a man capable of shouldering heavy responsibilities. Moreover, while attached to the colleges, he always took a keen interest in pastoral work, ministering in parishes at week-ends and during holiday periods. He took a special interest in promoting vocations, encouraging his students to consider the priestly life and strongly supporting those who went forward.

In April 1968 Joseph celebrated the silver jubilee of his priesthood in Holy Cross cathedral, Benin City, on the same day as Bishop Kelly celebrated the silver jubilee of his episcopal ordination. In the same year it came as no surprise that Joseph's confreres in the mid-west elected him their delegate to the Provincial Assembly which was held in Cork during the month of July. At that Assembly Joseph was elected a member of the Provincial Council and as vice-Provincial to Lawrence Carr. Joseph served in this capacity until 1976 when, with the untimely death of the Provincial, he assumed the office. Joseph spent two years as Provincial, winning the respect and admiration of his confreres for the manner in which he exercised his heavy responsibilities. As vice-principal, he played a key role in the construction of S.M.A. house, Maynooth. As Provincial, during a time of uncertainty and change, in the wake of the Vatican Council and profound changes in the Province's mission fields, he steered a steady course

After ten years in administration at home, Joseph returned to Africa in 1979, to Kaduna archdiocese in northern Nigeria. Patrick Ekpu who had taken over in 1973 from Patrick J. Kelly as bishop of Benin City diocese had asked him to return to Benin. But Joseph felt he had more to give in the north of Nigeria, where the Church was less-securely established. After acquiring a working knowledge of Hausa he was appointed to a suburban parish in Kaduna in 1979. In 1980 he was transferred to St. John's parish, Kaduna, where he was appointed diocesan procurator and parish priest. Seven years later he was appointed to St. Augustine's parish, Tudunwada, which had just started as a parish under Tom McNamara. Joseph continued the work begun on a new church but unfortunately his health broke down and he was invalided home in March 1990. Today St. Augustine's is a flourishing parish under a Nigerian priest.

Joseph spent his last years in retirement at Blackrock Road where he bore a painful and debilitating illness with fortitude and faith. He remarked to a colleague shortly before his death: 'I joined the S.M.A. in answer to a call from God. I went to Nigeria as a messenger of the Gospel. All my work there was to fulfil that call as well as I could. I was sad when illness compelled me to leave Nigeria - but I thank God for using me to bring His message of hope to many Nigerian people. The work is God's.'

He is buried in Wilton cemetery.