Société des Missions Africaines –Province d'Irlande
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né le 6 juin 1901 à Islandealy dans l'archidiocèse de Tuam, Irlande membre de la SMA le 13 juillet 1925 prêtre le 9 juin 1929 décédé le 12 juillet 1959 |
1929-1934 missionnaire au Nigeria décédé à Galway, Irlande, le 12 juillet 1959, |
Le père John O'FLAHERTY (1901 - 1959)
A Galway (Irlande), le 12 juillet 1959, retour à Dieu du père John O'Flaherty, à l'âge de 58 ans
John O'Flaherty naquit à Wesport, dans le diocèse de Tuam, en 1901. Il fit ses études dans les maisons de la province d'Irlande. Il fit le serment en 1925 et fut ordonné prêtre en 1929. Ecrivain et artiste, ayant été journaliste avant son entrée au séminaire, le père O'Flaherty sera chargé de la presse tout au long de sa vie.
En 1929, le père partait pour le vicariat de la Côte du Bénin et devenait l'éditeur du "Nigerian Catholic Herald". Revenu en Irlande, il fut l'éditeur de "l'African Missionary" de 1935 à 1952. Le père O'Flaherty dirigea de main de maître cette revue de la province d'Irlande. Cette revue lui doit beaucoup; sa réputation et son fort tirage, elle le doit à ce père qui la dirigea pendant 17 ans.
Le père O'Flaherty était très doué et, en particulier, possédait une rare imagination. Il compta de nombreux amis, parmi eux Mgr Fulton Sheen, auxiliaire de New-York.
De 1944 à 1952, le père O'Flaherty fut aussi conseiller provincial. Malade, il dut se retirer à notre maison Saint-François-Xavier, à Doughcloyne, dès 1952.
Father John Christopher O'FLAHERTY (1901 - 1959)
John O'Flaherty was born in Islandeady, Westport, Co Mayo, in the archdiocese of Tuam, on 6 June 1901. He died at the family home, in Sea Road, Galway, on 12 July 1959.
John (known as 'J.C.') was educated at the Christian Brothers school, Thurles, and St. Mary's college Galway (c.1917) before coming to the Sacred Heart college, Ballinafad, Co Mayo in 1922. He entered the Society's novitiate and house of philosophy in the autumn of 1923, and studied theology first at St. Joseph's seminary, Blackrock Road, Cork (1925 1926) and later (after the seminary's transfer) at Dromantine, Co Down (1926 1929). He became a member of the Society on 8 July 1925 and was ordained a priest by Bishop Edward Mulhern of Dromore diocese, at St. Colman's cathedral, Newry, on 9 June 1929. He was one of a group of fifteen ordained on that day.
Writer and artist (he had trained as a printer before joining the Society) 'J.C.' was destined to spend most of his priestly life in the 'apostolate of the pen'. In October 1929 he was assigned to the vicariate of the Bight of Benin, in south-western Nigeria, where he became editor of the Nigerian Catholic Herald. The Herald had been founded in 1924 by Bishop Ferdinand Terrien as a monthly publication. For many years it was the sole organ of public information and opinion for the catholic Church throughout Nigeria. From a monthly it appeared fortnightly and then weekly. The Herald was closed in 1957 due to financial problems, but has been revived in recent years. 'J.C.' edited this important journal for five years, during which he also ministered in Holy Cross cathedral mission, taking charge of the two elementary schools with their 1,400 pupils.
In September 1934 'J.C.' returned to Ireland where he was appointed editor of the African Missionary, the Province's monthly journal, which presented the Society and its missions to the public. During this period he was also spiritual director of the Little Flower confraternity at Blackrock Road, which he built up into one of the most flourishing sodalities of its kind in Cork. 'J.C.' edited the 'magazine' and guided the confraternity until June 1952 when he developed cardiac illness. He went to convalesce in his home at 'Danesfield', Sea Road, Galway, until April 1953 when he returned to Blackrock Road to continue his recuperation.
In September 1953, fit once more for work, he was appointed organising secretary for the centenary celebrations of the Society's foundation, which was to be held in 1956. 'J.C.' got the organising committee working smoothly and then retired to St. Francis Xavier's, Doughcloyne (a hostel for African students attending U.C.C.) in September 1954. Apart from his pastoral and 'literary' appointments 'J.C' also occupied a number of important 'Society' posts. He was coopted as a Provincial councillor to the administration led by Stephen Harrington, serving from October 1944 until July 1946, after which he became an elected councillor to Patrick Martin Kelly's administration at the Assembly of 1946. He held this position until March 1952 when a new Provincial administration, led by John A. Creaven, was nominated.
During his relatively short retirement 'J.C' suffered greatly from ill-health. Three months after his arrival in Doughcloyne, in December 1954 he suffered cerebral thrombosis and entered hospital in Cork. After Christmas he returned to Galway to convalesce and at the end of January 1955 returned to Doughcloyne. In the spring of 1958 'J.C.' took up residence with his sister, May, at 'Danesfield', Sea Road. He died peacefully in his home attended by his sister.
From his student days 'J.C.' was one of the most faithful contributors to the African Missionary. As editor of the magazine for seventeen years he succeeded in making the 'A.M.' uniquely bright and distinguished among religious magazines. He numbered among his friends and contributors such distinguished personalities as G.K. Chesterton, Lord Dunsany, Bishop Fulton Sheen, C.C. Martindale, Stephen Leacock, Paul Robeson, Claire Sheridan and Fortunino Matania. He himself encouraged young writers and artists and was a poet in his own right. His collection of poetry 'Presenting a Poet's Life', was printed privately in Cork in 1946. A futher collection, 'Songs of Home' appeared in 1953 and two years later 'The Sermon on the Cross'. J.C.' will be remembered too as a gifted preacher, from whom words flowed readily. He had an expert knowledge of painting and sculpture and with his family (both his mother and father and sister) built up a valuable collection of 'objects d'art' and paintings. He and his sister, May, bequeathed their house in Galway, and the 'O'Flaherty collections', to the Society.
He is buried in Wilton cemetery.
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