Société des Missions Africaines – Province d'Irlande

né le 4 juillet 1903 à Oranmore dans le diocèse de Galway, Irlande membre de la SMA le 2 juillet 1930 prêtre le 10 juin 1934 décédé le 23 juin 1944

1934-1935 missionnaire au Nigeria, Kaduna 1935-1936 repos en Irlande 1936-1941 missionnaire au Nigeria Kaduna, Kano, Minna 1941-1943 repos en Irlande 1943-1944 missionnaire au Nigeria, Kaduna décédé à Kaduna, Nigeria, le 23 juin 1944 à l’âge de 41 ans

A Kaduna (Nigeria), le 23 juin 1944, retour à Dieu du père Patrick Lee, à l'âge de 41 ans.

Patrick Lee naquit à Oranmore, dans le diocèse de Galway (Irlande), en 1903. Il fit ses études dans les maisons de la Société. Il fit le serment en 1930 et fut ordonné prêtre en 1934. Le père Lee fut désigné pour la préfecture de Kaduna où, victime de "black water fever" (bilieuse?), il dut revenir au bout d'un an. En 1936, le père Lee retourne dans la même préfecture et peu y passer ses cinq ans normaux. Il travaille à Kaduna, Zaria, Argungu, Kano et Minna. C'était un missionnaire d'un naturel joyeux et calme. Il avait toujours le sourire et son rire contagieux résolvait de grandes difficultés, au milieu d'une population impressionnable. Le père Lee avait un grand cœur et une nature généreuse. Revenu en Europe, il était retourné prendre sa place dans la préfecture en 1943. Il mourut à la suite d'une grave opération.

Father Patrick Joseph LEE (1903 - 1944)

Patrick Lee was born in Oranmore, Co Galway (the family address was 'Abbey Villas', Nenagh, Co Tipperary), in the diocese of Galway, on 4 July 1903. He died in the catholic mission, at Kaduna, northern Nigeria, on 23 June 1944.

Patrick (Paddy) was a 'delayed vocation' to the Society. He served as a Garda Siochána for a year before joining. Paddy came to the Sacred Heart college, Ballinafad, Co Mayo in 1927, and in the following year entered the Society's novitiate and house of philosophy, at Kilcolgan, Co Galway (1928 1930). He completed his seminary training in the major seminary, at Dromantine, Co Down, in 1934. Paddy took his oath of membership of the Society on 2 July 1930 and was ordained a priest by Bishop Edward Mulhern of Dromore diocese, in St. Colman's cathedral, Newry, on 10 June 1934. He was one of a group of seventeen, including his younger brother John, ordained on that day.

After ordination Paddy was appointed to the prefecture of Kaduna, in northern Nigeria. This prefecture was erected in the year of Paddy's ordination, under the leadership of Thomas P. Hughes. In his first report to Propaganda Fide Mgr. Hughes wrote :'the congregations of all the stations of northern Nigeria, apart from about 160 really indigenous Catholics of the Shendam-Kwande areas, are composed of people from southern Nigeria and the Gold Coast, who had either embraced Catholicism in their native land or were converted after arrival here'. The prefecture comprised the Provinces of Kano, Sokoto, Zaria and Niger and extended into French territory to the 15th degree latitude north of the equator. The principal stations were Kano, Zaira, Kaduna and Minna. Paddy disembarked at Lagos in October 1934 and travelled north to Kano by rail, accompanied by his brother and some returning missionaries, a journey which took two days.

Mgr. Hughes appointed him to Zaria mission where Malachy Gately was superior. Zaria had a catholic community of some 900 members and 400 catechumens, mostly southerners from Igboland who had come northwards with the railway. A new mission residence was in the process of construction in Zaria and he played an active part in this work. However his principal task during these opening months was to learn the Hausa language. After four months he took his examination in that language and received faculties to hear confessions in Hausa. Two months later Paddy was transferred to Argungu mission, a rural station in Sokoto Province, some 500 miles from Kaduna, where a Father's residence was under construction. Here in Argungu the evangelisation of the indigenous animist population was the priority. In August 1935 Paddy contracted the dreaded and usually fatal blackwater fever. Alphonse Schahl, the 'visitor', responsible for the welfare of the members, reported to the Provincial, Maurice Slattery, 'Doctor and nurses stayed for days at Argungu giving him every attention and care. He is up and about again'. However there could be no question of his remaining in Nigeria and on the advice of Dr. A.C. Lovett Campbell, the medical officer in Sokoto, Mgr. Hughes decided to repatriate him as soon as he was able for the journey. Paddy wrote to Mgr. Hughes on 9 September: 'I am coming out of my little fit in great style. For several days I have been learning to walk all over again and am now fairly proficient. I'll be fit D.V. for the journey down the line this week and for the longer journey afterwards'.

Having made a good recovery, Paddy returned to Nigeria a year later, taking up a posting in Kano, where Michael McKeever was superior. In September 1937 he was appointed superior of Minna district, where he was later joined by Michael Moorhead. During the remaining years of this second tour of duty he ministered in Kaduna, Zaria, and Argungu. Paddy came home on leave towards the close of 1941. He was due back to Nigeria a year later, however it was October 1943 before he was able to secure a sea passage to West Africa. During his time at home he visited his family and helped in the Province's promotional work. He also experienced poor health, but was determined to return to his mission. It was to be Paddy's last time to see his family and friends. After his return to Africa Paddy continued to experience ill-health and in April 1944 he was admitted to Kaduna hospital. He died some days after an operation to remove tubercular parasites from a kidney. The doctor who operated on him held out little hope for a full recovery. It is possible that his illness was connected with his earlier bout of blackwater fever. His loss at such an early age was a severe blow to his mission where he had already established a reputation for zeal and energy. John McCarthy, who had replaced Mgr. Hughes as prefect in 1943 (on the translation of Mgr. Hughes to Ondo), described Paddy in a letter to the Provincial, as ' one of our best men in the Niger Province'. Paddy's creative temperament would have been particularly valuable in tackling the complex pastoral tasks which faced the Church in northern Nigeria.

He is buried in the parish of Our Lady, Independence Way, Kaduna, Nigeria.