Société des Missions Africaines –Province d'Irlande

né le 12 février 1903 à Coolmeen dans l’archidiocèse de Tuam, Irlande membre de la SMA le 15 juillet 1923 prêtre le 16 juin 1927 décédé le 12 août 1981

1927-1943 missionnaire au vicariat du Bénin 1943-1951 missionnaire au vicariat de Ondo Ilorin 1952-1958 Rome, conseiller général 1958-1968 Blackrock Road, Cork,conseiller provincial 1958-1964, Cork, supérieur 1964-1970, Doughcloyne, supérieur 1971-1977 Wilton, économe 1977-1981 Wilton, retiré décédé à Cork, Irlande, le 12 août 1981, à l'âge de 78 ans

Patrick Hurst was born at Coolmeen, Claremorris, Co Mayo, in the archdiocese of Tuam, on 12 February 1903. He died in the Bon Secours hospital, Cork, on 12 August 1981.

Patrick (Pat) came to the Sacred Heart college, Ballinafad, Co Mayo, in 1916. Two years later he entered St. Joseph's college, Wilton, Cork, where he completed his secondary education. Pat went to the Society's novitiate and house of philosophy at Kilcolgan, Co Galway, in 1921. He received his theological formation at St. Joseph's seminary, Blackrock Road, Cork (1923 1926) and, later, after the transfer of the seminary from Cork, at Dromantine, Co Down (1926 1927). Pat became a member of the Society on 15 July 1923 and was ordained a priest at St. Colman's cathedral, Newry, by Bishop Edward Mulhern of Dromore diocese, on 16 June 1927. He was one of a group of eleven ordained on that day.

After ordination Pat was appointed to the vicariate of the Bight of Benin, in south western Nigeria, reaching his mission in November 1927. On his arrival, Ferdinand Terrien, the vicar apostolic, appointed Pat to Ondo district. Here he was introduced to the missionary life, learned the Yoruba language, studied local customs and undertook supervised pastoral work. After six months Pat received faculties to hear confessions and was then appointed to Oshogbo district to assist Jan Sevriens, a Dutch member of the Society. Oshogbo district had over thirty secondary stations, scattered over a wide area. A central boarding school for pupils from the outstations was located in Oshogbo and Pat was given responsibility for its direction. In January 1929 Pat returned to Ondo district where he was nominated superior.

The principal station of Ondo, which had been founded in 1916 under the patronage of St. Matthew, had a catholic community of 350 members and 50 catechumens. There were some 30 secondary stations each with a small mud walled church and some of them with schools with a cumulative membership of 700 Catholics and 300 catechumens. Assisted by Amby O'Haire, Pat ministered to those already catholic and pioneered new Christian communities, for a period of three years. He spent the last seventeen months of his first tour of duty as superior of St. Theresa's inter vicarial seminary at Oke Are, Ibadan. Here, with Stephen Adewuyi, a Nigerian priest who had been ordained in 1929, he provided secondary education for 26 seminarians drawn from south western and western Nigeria.

Pat went on his first home leave in March 1933. Three years earlier, after the death of Bishop Terrien, Francis O'Rourke had become vicar apostolic, and the jurisdiction was entrusted to the care of the Irish Province. When Pat returned to Nigeria in March 1934, Bishop O'Rourke assigned him to Abeokuta district, capital of the Egbas. Pat was to spend the next three years as superior in Abeokuta, assisted by Dick Fitzgerald and later by Martin Kenny and Lawrence Dolan. Abeokuta station had been founded in 1880 and was home of the renowned Sacred Heart hospital, founded at the turn of the century by Jean Marie Coquard, a French member of the Society who was a self taught surgeon. Abeokuta had 36 secondary stations and a catholic community of almost 3,000 members and 500 catechumens. Pat spent the last two years of his second tour of duty as administrator of Holy Cross 'cathedral', in the heart of Lagos city. Holy Cross was the oldest mission in Nigeria, established in 1868. It was also the largest mission in the Society's Nigerian jurisdictions, with a catholic community of 11,000 members. Pat had four priests assisting him in this busy parish.

In July 1938 Pat came to Ireland for a well earned rest, returning to Nigeria in August 1939. He spent the next three years in charge of Ondo district, followed by six months in Ile Ife. On 12 January 1943 Ondo district (with some additional territory), which Pat had done so much to develop, was detached from the vicariate and erected as a separate jurisdiction, the vicariate of Ondo Ilorin, under the leadership of Thomas P. Hughes. Pat was appointed to the staff of the new vicariate, spending the remaining years of this war time tour, at Ilawe and Ado Ekiti. After his return from his next home leave, in April 1947, Pat was again posted superior at Ondo. In 1950 Pat had the joy of seeing the jurisdiction erected as a diocese (the 'diocese of Ondo'). His selection by Bishop Hughes as first vicar general of the diocese was a fitting tribute to Pat's work since 1927. .

In addition to his 'mission' appointments, Pat played an active role in the affairs of the Society. Recognised for his pioneering work, especially in the Ondo Ilorin jurisdiction, and for his skills as an administrator, he was elected delegate by his confreres to represent them at the Provincial Assembly of 1946, and at the General Assembly of June 1952. At the General Assembly Pat was appointed councillor to Stephen Harrington, the Superior General, taking up residence in Rome. At the Irish Provincial Assembly of 1958 Pat was elected Provincial councillor to John A. Creaven. He held that position for the next ten years, residing first at Blackrock Road where he was superior (1958 1964), and at St. Xavier's Hostel, Doughcloyne a hostel for African students attending U.C.C. where again he was superior (1964 1970). Prudent and reliable, Pat was despatched to Kilcolgan in 1970 to oversee the hand over of that property to a new owner. Having completed that task he returned to Cork in 1971 becoming bursar at Wilton. He retained that position until 1977, thereafter retiring in the house.

Pat was one of the great pioneering missionaries of the Ondo Ilorin region. At home he was an able administrator, entrusted with heavy responsibilities. Of retiring disposition, he was regarded with admiration and respect by those who worked with him. He was a cousin of Tom John Hughes, who was ordained for the Society in 1923. Pat died after a long illness which he bore with exemplary fortitude.

He is buried in Wilton cemetery.