Société des Missions Africaines – Province d’Irlande

né le 2 juillet 1901 dans le diocèse d’Achonry, Irlande membre de la SMA le 15 juillet 1923 prêtre le 16 juillet 1927 décédé le 28 août 1930

1928-1930 missionnaire au Nigeria décédé à Lokoja, Nigeria, le 28 août 1930, à l’âge de 29 ans

A Lokodja (Nigeria), le 28 août 1930, retour à Dieu du père Walter Keary, à l'âge de 29 ans.

Walter Keary naquit à Foxford, dans le diocèse d'Achonry (Irlande), en 1901. Il fit ses études dans les maisons de la Société en Irlande. Il fut admis dans la Société par le serment en 1923 et fut ordonné prêtre en juin 1927. Peu après, le père Keary partait pour le vicariat de la Nigeria Occidentale, où il se montra de suite "bon missionnaire", très dévoué.

Nommé à Lokodja, le père Keary visitait régulièrement, à pied ou à bicyclette, les catéchistes et les maîtres de l'immense district et préparait les fidèles à la réception des sacrements.

Etant déjà fatigué, il eut une fièvre bilieuse hématurique qui l'emporta.

Father Walter KEARY (1901 - 1930)

Walter Keary was born at Carragolda, Bohola, Co Mayo, in the diocese of Achonry, on 2 July 1901. He died at Lokoja, Nigeria, on 28 August 1930.

Walter came from a family with clerical connections. He was a grand nephew of John McEvilly, who became archbishop of Tuam in 1881. Walter was educated in the colleges of the Society in Ireland. He studied at the Sacred Heart college, Ballinafad, Co Mayo (1916 1918) and St. Joseph's college, Wilton, Cork (1918 1921). He entered the Society's novitiate and house of philosophy, at Kilcolgan, Co Galway, in the autumn of 1921. His theological studies commenced at St. Joseph's seminary, Blackrock Road, Cork and were completed at Dromantine, Co Down, to which the seminary was transferred in 1926. Walter was received as a member of the Society on 15 July 1923 and was ordained a priest by Bishop Edward Mulhern of Dromore diocese, in St. Colman's cathedral, Newry, on 16 June 1927. He was one of a group of eleven ordained on that day.

Shortly after his ordination Walter set sail for the vicariate of Western Nigeria. This was the Irish Province's first mission in Nigeria, confided to Thomas Broderick in 1918, and staffed in the early days by a youthful team of Irish members and a handful of veteran continental missionaries who remained on when the Irish assumed responsibility. Today it forms the archdiocese of Benin City and the dioceses of Warri, Lokoja and Issele Uku. On his arrival in October 1927, Bishop Broderick appointed Walter to Lokoja district.

The Lokoja mission, founded in 1884, was the first headquarters of the prefecture. Situated in a cup of hills at the confluence of the Niger and Benue rivers, Lokoja was a town where Mohammedan influence was strong. Subsequently the seat of the vicariate was moved 100 miles south, to Asaba, a much more suitable location from every point of view. Lokoja district was larger than the largest county in Ireland and administered by three Fathers. There were three residential stations: Lokoja, Okeni, and Kabba. Walter was given responsibility for Kabba, where he ministered to a community of over 2,000 catholic members and 500 catechumens. Kabba had fifteen outstations small Christian communities, based in rural villages, each with its little school and rudimentary chapel (often a single structure serving as both school and chapel), staffed by teachers and catechists trained in the central station. Walter had to ensure the regular visitation of each station, the training and supervision of teachers and catechists, the building and overseeing of schools and churches, and the preparation of catechumens for the reception of the sacraments. Visitation of the outstations was mostly accomplished on foot or by bicycle. The arduous task of trekking generally took a heavy toll on the health of missionaries. Walter was a case in point. He contracted the dreaded blackwater fever and having little resistance died after four days. When death claimed Walter he was only 29 years old.

Bishop Broderick wrote a poignant letter to Walter's parents, a copy of which is preserved in the archives of the Irish Province, at Blackrock Road. 'The illness that led to his death was brought about by blackwater fever. Apart from an occasional complaint of slight stomach trouble he looked and felt quite well, according to Father Kelly his companion. Within the short period of four days the fever brought him to his end. He had every attention from Fathers Kenny and Duffy. He was taken to the European hospital was under a Scottish doctor's care had a European nurse and three catholic Nigerian nurses. Everything that could be done was done. But blackwater fever, still largely a mystery to medical men, is fatal in the majority of cases. God in His inscrutable designs demanded the supreme sacrifice the death of Father Walter for the conversion of the pagans. We had solemn Requiem Mass here at Asaba. Everyone of our priests has offered Mass for the repose of his gentle soul. I cross over the Niger on September 1st to assist at another solemn Requiem High Mass arranged by Bishop Heerey of the Holy Ghost Mission for poor Father Walter. From Lagos, Kano, Onitsha, Lokoja from all the important centres in Nigeria we have received messages of sympathy. Only last May I blessed the new church erected in Father Walter's station of Kabba. I had Confirmations also on the occasion I spent four days with Father Walter and Fathers Kenny and Duffy. All of us had the greatest respect and affection for Father Walter...'

His loss at such a young age was another in a long line since the formation of the Irish Province in May 1912, mainly due to yellow fever, blackwater fever and malarial fever. It must be said that while each death was regarded as a tragedy for the mission and for the Society, the morale of the missionaries was never undermined. On the contrary, both in the seminary in Ireland and on the missions there was an acceptance that this was the price which would have to be paid for the evangelisation of Africa.

He is buried in Lokoja, Nigeria.