Société des Missions Africaines –Province d'Irlande

né le 11 octobre 1914 à Kilcullen dans le diocèse de Kildare, Irlande membre de la SMA le 30 juin 1935 prêtre le 18 décembre 1938 décédé le 24 juin 1971

1939-1942 missionnaire au Nigeria, Asaba- Benin 1942-1946 aumônier militaire, Nigeria, Burma, India 1947-1965 missionnaire au Nigeria Asaba-Benin puis Benin City 1965-1969 Blackrock Road, Cork, oratoire public 1968-1971 diocèse de Baltimore, USA 1971 en famille, malade décédé à Dublin, Irlande, le 24 juin 1971, à l'âge de 57 ans

Joseph Hilliard was born in Kilcullen, Co Kildare, in the diocese of Kildare and Leighlin, on 11 October 1914. He died in St. Vincent's hospital, Dublin, on 24 June 1971.

Joe spent his early years in Kilcullen, later coming to live at Church Hill, Fermoy, Co Cork. He studied with the Christian Brothers, at Fermoy, before entering St Joseph's college, Wilton, Cork, in 1930. Three years later he joined the novitiate and house of philosophy, at Kilcolgan, Co Galway, where, on 30 June 1935, he was admitted to membership of the Society. He received his theological formation in the major seminary at Dromantine, Co Down. He was ordained a priest by Bishop Edward Mulhern of Dromore diocese, in St. Colman's cathedral, Newry, on 18 December 1938. He was one of a group of eleven ordained on that day.

After ordination Joe returned to Dromantine for six months to complete his theological course. He was then appointed to the vicariate of Western Nigeria, arriving there in October 1939. His first appointment was to Asaba, where he studied the Igbo language, learned about African culture and undertook supervised pastoral work. After four months he took his language test and his 'canonicals' examination, and received faculties to hear confessions in the local language. Joe's arrival in Nigeria coincided with the appointment of Patrick J. Kelly as vicar apostolic. On his return to Nigeria after his episcopal ordination, Bishop Kelly posted Joe to St. Thomas' teacher training college, Ibusa. This institution, founded in 1928, provided qualified teachers for the jurisdiction's elementary school network and was the chief cornerstone of the vicariate's educational apostolate. However Joe's tenure in this college was relatively short. As the world war intensified requests came to the Society's bishops in West Africa for chaplains to serve with the West African Force. Joe was one of several missionaries who volunteered, joining in July 1942. He served in Zaria and Ibadan for a year before accompanying the 81st Division to India (three months), and to Burma (eight months), where he participated in two campaigns in the Arakan Province. Demobilised in June 1946 he returned to the vicariate in May 1947 and was appointed superior of Sapele mission.

Joe remained in the vicariate (which in 1950 became the diocese of Benin City) from 1947 until 1965. He spent most of these years as parish priest of Ogwashi-Uku, situated some 17 miles from Asaba. This town had been a major centre of resistance to British rule at the turn of the century. In 1909 during a violent confrontation, the catholic mission had been burned by the tribesmen because it was deemed to have aided the government side. This allegation was in fact untrue. The catholic mission was re-established soon after and went from strength to strength. The mission residence, which was situated on a hill, perhaps 800 above sea level and quite cold in harmatan season (November April), enjoyed the luxury of an upstairs fireplace. Joe also spent periods in Asaba, Ibusa and Agbor. In Asaba and elsewhere he did invaluable work in translating records, files and coutumiers of the old vicariate from French into English, rescuing many of these priceless documents from obscurity. Perhaps his greatest scholarly contribution was his manuscript history entitled 'Missionary Endeavour in the Diocese of Benin City', written in the late 1950's at the request of John A. Creaven, then Provincial, but never published. This study was based not only on mission records but also on government files.

In January 1965 Joe returned to Ireland on home leave. In poor health he entered Our Lady of Lourdes hospital, Drogheda, where he underwent major surgery. After a long period of convalescence he was given charge of St. Joseph's public church, adjoining the Province's motherhouse at Blackrock Road. In addition to this work he was appointed to the staff of the 'treasury', processing correspondence and benefactions. Joe was a deeply pastoral man and, since there was little work in the church during week-days, he sought a more active pastoral ministry. His doctors absolutely prohibited his return to the tropics so, with the permission and encouragement of his superiors, he took up a post in Baltimore diocese, U.S.A. where he served as assistant pastor in the parish of St. Mary of the Annunciation, Lonaconing, Maryland. In April 1971 Joe was diagnosed as suffering from serious illness, with little hope of recovery. He returned to Blackrock Road, entering the Mercy hospital, Cork, in May and going to St. Vincent's, Dublin, early in June.

Joe loved the Irish language and always found time to keep in close touch with its developing literature. For him the language and its literature enshrined all that was good and noble in the Irish tradition. He was interested also in horses, keeping in touch through the world service of the B.B.C. with the big races in England and Ireland. Drawing a metaphor from the stables, he used to say that Augustin Planque (Superior General after the Founder) was a draught-horse while Mgr. de Brésillac (the Founder) was a steeple-chaser. His party piece at get-togethers was 'The Fool', recited with great feeling.

He is buried in Wilton cemetery.