Société des Missions Africaines –Province d'Irlande

né le 20 avril 1913 à Cobh dans le diocèse de Cloyne, Irlande membre de la SMA le 4 juillet 1949 décédé le 1er septembre 1982

1949-1958 Blackrock Road, imprimerie, secrétariat 1958-1967 Clough, imprimerie, secrétariat 1967-1982 Blackrock Road, imprimerie, secrétariat décédé à Cork, Irlande, le 1er septembre 1982, à l'âge de 69 ans

Jim Ahern was born in Cobh, Co Cork (the family address was 14 Newtown, Cobh), in the diocese of Cloyne, on 29 April 1913. He died at the Bon Secours hospital, Cork, after a short illness, on 1 September 1982.

James (Jim) studied at the Presentation college, Cobh (1925 1932), matriculating in 1930 and obtaining his leaving certificate in 1932. He attended the Cobh technical school for night classes between 1932 1935), learning typewriting, short hand, book keeping and commercial arithmetic. Jim was 34 years old when he came to the Society, beginning his postulancy at Blackrock Road, Cork, in 1947. Two years later, on 4 July 1949, he was received as a member of the Society (in the brotherhood) and he was to take his permanent oath of membership on 4 July 1955. In his souvenir card of final profession Jim chose the following text from the Imitation of Christ: 'Oh, that I were able, if it were but for one day, to serve Thee worthily'. Jim was to give faithful service for thirty six years.

In his youth Jim was afflicted by a form of epilepsy, and although this passed as he grew older it left a legacy of severe deafness which was to remain with him until the end of his life. He bore this affliction with exemplary patience. Jim was very gifted with his hands. An excellent carpenter (his own father was a joiner and shipwright attached to the navy in Cobh), he was to do much valuable work in the houses of the Society, and in his spare time he made beautifully crafted wooden toys for deaf children. He was also an excellent student having obtained an impressive leaving certificate and acquiring a wide range of secretarial skills. Jim spent most of his life in the Provincial house at Blackrock Road. His first appointment, given to him in 1949, was as assistant to Philip Corish, the Provincial procurator. His principal task was to look after the Mass Register, entering Masses and replying to correspondence. During this time he also did a little house maintenance.

From 1952 until October 1953 Jim was attached to the main promotion office, assisting Jim Saul. He was then appointed house sacristan and given duties in the Rest House, looking after the rooms of confreres who were sick or resting from Africa. Jim was an industrious worker and when he was given his new assignment in 1953, the acting Provincial, John Reddington, warned him of the need not to over tax his strength. In August 1958 Jim was assigned to the Province's 'spiritual year', or year of probation, at Kilcolgan, Co Galway. Jim spent a spell of nine years in Kilcolgan, during which he did many of the skilled practical tasks in the house. A dextrous typist, he was next appointed to the secretarial staff of the preparatory commission for the 1968 Provincial Assembly and was official typist at the second session of that Assembly. Subsequently, between 1968 1972, he was attached to the Provincial secretariat at Blackrock Road, where he also did work for the main promotion office, providing Martin Whyte, the director, with expert help. Towards the end of his life he was involved in the work of Mite Box cataloguing, a task he performed with the same meticulous attention that he gave to every assignment.

Jim was a great upholder of the traditions of brotherhood in the Society. Whenever the traditions and prerogatives of the brothers were threatened or ignored, Jim was eloquent in their defence, speaking at meetings of confreres and putting pen to paper. He would have dearly loved to go to Africa after that option was opened up to the brothers, during the Provincial Assembly of 1958. However Jim's precarious health ruled this out. He took great pride in the achievements of those who went. There was a lighter side to Jim. He enjoyed a game of pitch and put and also of golf. A versifier of some quality, in the last decade of his life he brought out a collection of poems which were greatly enjoyed within the Society and further afield ('Verses Funny and Factual' [1971] [1974]). One of Jim's verses, entitled 'Mystical Musings of a Typist', written in 1970, gives something of the flavour.
What should I think when I strike the "A"?
A good beginning is half the way.
And what when next I depress the "B"?
To continue the journey steadily.
The third of the letters I strike is "C":
"Carry on with courage,", it says to me.
The fourth on the keyboard is this one, "D",
Which says to keep doing doggedly.
And what can I learn from the fifth it's "E"?
To be earnest in seeking sanctity.
What must I link with the letter "f"?
I'm afraid I can't hear! I'm a little deaf.
But the sound is clear when I strike the "G",
For the word it recalls is "Generously".
............................etc

He is buried in Wilton cemetery.