Société des Missions Africaines –Province d'Irlande

né le 12 mai 1920 à Blackrock dans le diocèse de Dublin, Irlande membre de la SMA le 2 juillet 1939 prêtre le 13 décembre 1942 décédé le 12 septembre 1976

1943-1947 collège de Maynooth, études supérieures 1947-1949 Dromantine, professeur 1949-1952 grand séminaire de Benin City, professeur 1952-1958 Dromantine, supérieur 1958-1963 grand séminaire d’Ibadan, supérieur 1964-1967 secrétaire général du Secrétariat catholique du Nigeria 1967-1968 archidiocèse de Lagos 1968-1976 provincial de la Province d’Irlande 1975 président du Conseil exécutif de l’Union missionnaire irlandaise décédé à Tenafly, USA, le 12 septembre 1976, à l'âge de 56 ans

Lawrence Carr was born in Blackrock, Co Dublin, in the archdiocese of Dublin, on 12 May 1920. He died, unexpectedly, in Orange Memorial hospital, New Jersey, U.S.A., on 12 September 1976.

Lawrence (Larry), who came from Sandpit, in the parish of Termonfeckin, Co Louth, received his secondary education from the Jesuits at Mungret college, Limerick (1934 1937). He joined the Society's novitiate and house of philosophy, at Kilcolgan, Co Galway, in the autumn of 1937 and two years later, on 2 July 1939, he was received as a member of the Society. Larry studied theology in the Society's seminary, at Dromantine, Co Down (1939 1943), and was ordained a priest in the seminary chapel, by Bishop Edward Mulhern of Dromore diocese, on 13 December 1942. Ordained with him on that day were Leo McNeill and Kevin Carroll. Normally class ordinations took place in Newry cathedral, however restrictions on wartime travel led to a dispersal of the ordinations in 1942. Members of Larry's class from the west were ordained in the chapel of Moyne Park seminary, Tuam, while those from the south were ordained in the cathedral at Skibbereen.

After ordination Larry returned to Dromantine for six months to complete his theology course. Already during his student days he had shown exceptional academic prowess and it was no surprise when in September 1943 he was sent for further studies. Larry was to enjoy a distinguished academic career. Enrolled in the Dunboyne Institute at St. Patrick's college, Maynooth, he was awarded a B.C.L. (bacelaureate in canon law) in 1944 and a licentiate in the following year. He acquired his doctorate degree (doctor of canon law) in June 1947 with a thesis entitled: 'Jurisdiction in Common Error'. From January 1947, while working on his thesis, Larry taught canon law in Dromantine. From January 1948 he also taught a course in moral theology.

Early in 1949 Larry was appointed to the vicariate of Asaba Benin in western Nigeria, where he was posted to the staff of the inter vicarial seminary at Benin City. This institution, named after St. Paul, which opened its doors first in Asaba in 1927, provided training for seminarians from all jurisdictions in the south west, west and north of Nigeria. It was transferred to Benin city in 1938/1939. In June 1952 Larry was recalled to Ireland to become superior of the Dromantine seminary. Here he presided over a student body of almost 60 seminarians and a staff which included Robert Molloy, Alfred Glynn, Michael Cunningham and Tom Galvin. In 1958 Larry was a delegate of the home based confreres to the Provincial Assembly of that year. After the Assembly he returned to Nigeria, taking up an appointment as superior of the major seminary, which had been transferred to Ibadan (Bodija Road) in 1956 and was now under the patronage of Saints Peter and Paul. There were almost 80 students in the seminary, drawn from the jurisdictions of Lagos, Benin City, Ibadan, Ondo, Kaduna, Cape Palmas (Liberia), Oyo, Sokoto and Kabba.

In 1964 Larry was appointed general secretary to the catholic bishops of Nigeria, residing at Falomo, Lagos, where he also served as parish priest. Four years later, in 1968, he attended the General Assembly in Rome and the Provincial Assembly in Cork, as delegate of his Nigerian colleagues. At the Cork Assembly he was elected Provincial. At the Provincial Assembly of 1973 he was re elected for a further term of five years. Larry was an inspiring leader, an able administrator and a committed priest. During his period of office as Provincial he showed great courage and initiative, having to cope with the largest Province in the Society and with the problems peculiar to the post Vatican era. There were many significant changes during Larry's tenure. The Province's students of philosophy and theology were transferred from Dromantine to Maynooth and a new house was built at Maynooth for the purpose. This entailed a lot of expense and required the disposal of much of the Wilton property. It also meant a new formation system had to be planned and staff appropriately trained. Larry's administration took the decision to close Ballinafad college, no longer serving a useful purpose, since secondary education was now nation wide and free. During his administration also, the students from Kilcolgan ('spiritual year' or novitiate) were transferred to Wilton for initial formation (Wilton was no longer needed as a university hostel, because of the transfer of the 'philosophers' to Maynooth). The Kilcolgan property was disposed of in 1971.

Again, Larry was a leading figure in the establishment of the Irish Missionary Union and was its chairman at the time of his death. He played a role too in bringing about what he described as 'the greatest breakthrough' in academic life at St. Patrick's college, Maynooth, namely the establishment of a chair of mission studies within the faculty of theology in 1974. It was also during his tenure that the decision to diversify the Province's missionary commitments was implemented. Missionaries were despatched to Ndola in Zambia; and to the diocese of Sunyani in Ghana. Larry also made the initial moves to attract diocesan priests from Tuam and Limerick to participate as helpers in the Province's work of evangelisation. On the home front his administration was notable for its vigorous development of the S.M.A. Boys Club in the vocations field, and of the Family Vocations Crusade which has now spread to the four Provinces of Ireland; and finally, the continuing formation for the confreres literature, seminars, renewal courses, spiritual renewal and sabbatical leave, special training and specialisation.

An excellent sportsman, Larry turned out for Louth on many occasions in the forties, winning Leinster senior football medals in 1943 and 1948. At club level he played for the Ramblers and then for St. Oliver Plunketts of which he was a founder member. He played hurling also for Louth, and in later life was an accomplished golfer. In Nigeria during his younger years he was renowned as a goalkeeper. Larry died unexpectedly while attending a Plenary Council Meeting of the Society at Tenafly, New Jersey, U.S.A.

After his death a colleague who worked closely with him wrote: 'Larry was at his best when leading. He was also a formidable opponent in debates and did not like to lose an argument. However in the conduct of council meetings he sought consensus. Probably his most significant contribution was the controversial move of the seminary from Dromantine to Maynooth during his first term of office as Provincial Superior, 1968 1973. His thinking was that taking into account the future role of missionary societies, a closer link with the Irish national Church was desirable.'

He is buried in Wilton cemetery.