Société des Missions Africaines - Province d’Irlande

né le 30 août 1913 à Caherulla dans le diocèse de Kerry, Irlande membre de la SMA le 12 juin 1936 prêtre le 18 décembre 1938 décédé le 22 juillet 1992

1939-1963 diocèse de Benin City 1964-1977 Grande-Bretagne  et USA, diocèse de Springfield 1977-1978 Maynooth, année sabbatique 1979-1992 Irlande, retiré décédé à Ardfert, Irlande, le 22 juillet 1992 à l’âge de 78 ans

Simon Joseph Styles was born in Caherulla, Ballyheigue, in the diocese of Kerry, on 30 August 1913. He died in Graigue nursing home, Ardfert, Co Kerry, on 22 July 1992.

Joseph (Joe) received his secondary education at the Jeffers Institute, Tralee (1927-1931). After matriculating he entered Mount Melleray philosophical school with a view to becoming a priest. In November 1934 he decided to give his life to the missions and entered the S.M.A. novitiate at Kilcolgan, Co Galway. He commenced his theological training in the Society's seminary at Dromantine, Co Down, in September 1935. Joseph was received as a member of the Society on 12 June 1936, and was ordained a priest by Bishop Edward Mulhern of Dromore diocese, at St. Colman's cathedral, Newry, on 18 December 1938. He was one of a group of eleven ordained on that day.

After ordination Joseph returned to Dromantine to complete his theological formation. He was then assigned to the vicariate of Western Nigeria, the first mission in Nigeria confided to the Irish Province, when Thomas Broderick was appointed vicar apostolic in 1918. The journey out was eventful. Joseph travelled in a convoy in late October which was frequently attacked by submarine and aircraft. However he arrived unscathed and was appointed to Ozoro (Usoro) for his tyrocinium (or period of induction). Here, under the supervision of John Mahon, superior at Ozoro, he studied the local language, learned about African culture, and engaged in pastoral ministry. After completing his tyrocinium Joseph remained on in Ozoro district. Late in 1940 the mission residence was transferred from Ozoro to nearby Ashaka and Joseph lived there until June of that year when he was appointed to Warri district. Here he joined the veteran missionary J.J. Healy, who was mission superior, and Michael Foley. Warri district had been opened in 1917 under the patronage of the Sacred Heart. Many of its secondary stations were situated in the Niger Delta and much of Joseph's work involved long journeys, often by canoe, to the widely scattered fishing folk in the creeks. In March 1942 Joseph went to Lagos for an operation to remove a cyst from the roof of his mouth. This weakened him and when a year later he had pleurisy and had to spend five weeks in Warri hospital, his superiors decided to send him home. It was October before a sea passage to Europe could be arranged.

Eight months earlier, in January 1943, the jurisdiction was renamed 'the vicariate of Asaba-Benin' under the leadership of Patrick J. Kelly (he had been in charge since 1939), and seven years later it was erected as 'the diocese of Benin City. On his return to Ireland Joseph spent eighteen months convalescing. He arrived back to his mission in May 1945. Bishop Kelly appointed him superior of Ubiaja district, to work among the Ishan people. The Church in Ubiaja was well-established, having been founded in 1908. There was a catholic community of almost 4,000 members and 800 catechumens. Joseph spent the whole of his second tour of duty in Ubiaja, returning to Ireland on leave in December 1949. His next appointment, from April 1950 was to Okene. Five months later, however, he was transferred to Lokoja parish. Joseph served in Benin City diocese - in the region which now constitutes Warri diocese - until May 1963, when his health deteriorated. During the last ten years he ministered mainly in Warri, but also in Ughelli, Sapele, Ubiaja, Agbor and Okene. During this time too his health deteriorated. A confrere wrote:' Joe, like many before him, injured his health, possibly irreparably, in the long, arduous tours to the outstations of Warri parish, and in canoe tours of the creeks'.

In May 1963 Joseph came home to Ireland on compassionate leave owing to the illness of his mother. His mother died shortly afterwards. In September Joseph went to Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda for a health check. He was subsequently hospitalised in the Bon Secours hospital in Glasnevin, Dublin and afterwards convalesced in his home at Ballyheigue. In 1965 he was strong enough to visit relatives in Chicago, U.S.A., undertaking temporary pastoral work during his stay. He returned to his family in Ballyheigue in December 1966. Two years later he went to England where he ministered for a while before going to the diocese of Springfield in the U.S.A. Joseph spent the next seven years (1970-1977) ministering at Blessed Sacrament church, Greenfield Massachusetts, and in St. Charles church, Pittsfield Massachusetts. He went to the S.M.A. house at Maynooth, Co Kildare, for a year's sabbatical leave between 1977-1978. On the completion of his course he decided to retire, taking up residence with his sister in Dublin. Later he went to live in Dromantine. After hospitalisation and a period of convalescence in Cork, Joseph spent his last months in the Graigue Nursing home, Ardfert.

Joseph celebrated the golden jubilee of his priesthood in 1988. His name is associated with pioneering work in what is the diocese of Warri today. Mostly by canoe, he traversed 'the Creeks', bringing the Good News to the Ijaw people. Long before there were residential mission stations, he regularly visited Bomadi and further south. Today there are thriving Christian communities in all these areas. In the U.S.A., in a very different context, countless men, women and young people benefited from his ministry. In his latter years, the manner in which he bore his ill-health impressed all those who crossed his path.

He is buried in Wilton cemetery.