Société des Missions Africaines – Province d’Irlande

né le 17 février 1906 dans le diocèse d’Elphin, Irlande membre de la SMA le 3 juillet 1928 prêtre le 12 juillet 1932 décédé le 8 septembre 1979

1932-1934 préfecture du Nord Nigeria 1934-1971 diocèse de Kaduna, Nigeria 1971-1979 Blackrock Road, Cork, retiré décédé à Cork, Irlande, le 8 septembre 1979, à l’âge de 73 ans

Malachy Joseph Gately was born at Dysart, Ballinasloe, Co Roscommon, in the diocese of Elphin, on 17 February 1906. He died at the Bon Secours hospital, Cork, on 8 September 1979.

A native of Mount Talbot parish, Malachy studied at the Sacred Heart college, Ballinafad, Co Mayo (1922 1923) and St. Joseph's college, Wilton, Cork (1923 1926), before entering the Society's novitiate and house of philosophy at Kilcolgan, Co Galway. He completed his seminary formation in the Society's college, at Dromantine, Co Down, where he studied theology between 1928 1932. He was received as a member of the Society on 3 July 1928 and was ordained a priest by Bishop Edward Mulhern of Dromore diocese, at St. Colman's cathedral, Newry, on 12 June 1932. He was one of a group of eight ordained on that day.

After ordination Malachy was appointed to the prefecture of Northern Nigeria. This prefecture, covering a vast area of over 100,000 square miles between the Niger and the Sahara, had been erected in 1929 under the leadership of William Porter. Malachy's first appointment was to Shendam, the oldest mission in the north, founded in 1907. Here, under the supervision of Bill Gannon, he learned Hausa and was introduced to the missionary life. After a year Malachy was transferred to the town of Zaria, where a mission had first been established in 1918. Zaria station, of which Malachy was appointed superior (assisted by Paddy Lee) had a catholic community of almost 800 members and 400 catechumens, mostly Igbo immigrants from the east who had come northwards with the railway line. In April 1934 the prefecture was divided into two new jurisdictions, the prefectures of Kaduna and Jos. Malachy was incorporated into the Kaduna jurisdiction, whose first prefect was Thomas P. Hughes. Malachy remained on in Zaria until July 1936 when he went to Ireland on his first home leave.

In his youth Malachy had been a powerful athlete and first class footballer. In Africa he never enjoyed great health, being invalided home on two occasions (1950 and 1970). Nonetheless he was to spend a total of 39 years in northern Nigeria (1932 1971), a record which was to be equalled by few. Malachy began his second tour of duty in October 1937, serving during the next five years, in Kaduna, Kakada, Kontagora and Guni. He was to undertake a further seven tours of duty until illness forced him to retire. Malachy went on his second home leave in March 1942. His return journey to Nigeria, in July 1943, almost ended in disaster. He travelled on the ill fated liner troopship S.S. California, which was bombed four days out to sea, with considerable loss of life. Rescued by the corvette, Moyola, Malachy and the other missionaries on board, disembarked at Casablanca, having lost all their equipment and clothing. There is a photograph in the Provincial archives at Blackrock Road, Cork, of Malachy and fourteen other survivors dressed in the uniforms of American servicemen.

After his ordeal Malachy made his way to Kaduna, arriving there in August. He was welcomed by a new prefect apostolic, John McCarthy, who had been nominated the previous May. During this tour of duty Malachy ministered briefly in Zaria before pioneering in December 1943 a new mission district, Kurmin Masuga, situated in a rural area with a predominantly animist population. In June 1945 Malachy was appointed pro prefect (acting as prefect in the absence of Mgr. McCarthy), holding this post until 1950. He was also one of two councillors to the prefect. Malachy spent the last eighteen months of this tour of duty in Kaduna mission. He returned from his next home leave in Spring 1948, resuming his work in Kurmin Masuga and remaining there until 1950 when he was invalided home. Malachy made a good recovery and was back at his post in September 1951. He spent the next four years as superior in Zaria. It was in his later tours, from 1956, that Malachy pioneered evangelisation of the Magazawas (in Rahama mission district) who are said to be the real Hausa and were followers of the African primal religions.

Malachy was responsible for the beginnings of the catholic Church in Southern Zaria Province (now known as Southern Kaduna), Eastern Zaria Province and Kano State. In his style of work Malachy was noted for his discretion, his politeness and his determination to keep things absolutely simple and basic. Among his contributions to the Church in the north were his fine translations of prayers and the catechism, reflecting his profound understanding of his people and his fluency in Hausa.

At heart a quiet and reserved man, he could be a brilliant and entertaining conversationalist when the occasion demanded, a welcoming host and a perfect visitor. After his retirement from Africa in 1971, Malachy spent the remainder of his life in the S.M.A. house at Blackrock Road. On the occasion of a Mass for the repose of Malachy's soul, offered in St. Joseph's cathedral, Kaduna, another veteran missionary, Denis Minihane, paid this eloquent tribute: 'The name of Fr. Gately must be recorded as one of the greatest missionaries who left the shores of Ireland. During his first tour (1932 1936) because of ill health, it was rumoured in high places that he should be boarded home. The great and zealous Fr. Gately heard of the rumours. When the powers that were guiding the fortunes of Christ in northern Nigeria were looking for him he was nowhere to be found. Three days afterwards he was seen outside of Pankshin sitting on a deck chair under a tree catechising venerable old men and women, young boys and girls. From Shendam to Pankshin he had trekked by foot through the luxuriant jungle with three labourers one carrying a Mass box, a second carrying a camp bed on which he slept very often in the open under a tree; a third (his cook) carrying a chop box. This is only one example of very many long treks by foot from where the Lordly Niger flows to the Sahara Desert. What a man, the great Fr. Gately.'

He is buried in Wilton cemetery.