Société des Missions Africaines – Province d’Irlande

né le 23 décembre 1881 à Glenvar, Letterkenny dans le diocèse de Raphoe, Irlande membre de la SMA le 17 octobre 1909 prêtre le 9 juillet 1911 décédé le 16 septembre 1932

1911-1918 Wilton et Blackrock, professeur 1918-1920 Blackrock Road, Cork supérieur 1921-1929 Lyon, professeur au séminaire 1929-1931 Hastings, professeur au séminaire 1931-1932 Nigeria occidentale décédé à Asaba, Nigeria, le 16 septembre 1932, à l’âge de 51 ans

A Asaba (Nigeria), le 16 septembre 1932, retour à Dieu du père James Mac Gettigan, à l'âge de 51 ans.

James Mac Gettigan naquit à Glenvar, Letterkenny, dans le diocèse de Raphoë (Irlande), en 1881. Après avoir terminé ses études à l'école nationale de Glenvar, il travailla six ans dans le commerce. A 21 ans, il entra à notre école apostolique de Wilton, puis passa au grand séminaire à Lyon. Il fit le serment en 1906 et fut ordonné prêtre en 1911.

Le père Mac Gettigan fut nommé professeur à Wilton. En 1913, il passa au grand séminaire de Blackrock. Il s'y montra un professeur clair et méthodique, quelque peu scrupuleux et faisant passer la régularité avant tout.

En 1918, le père Mac Gettigan devenait vice provincial d'Irlande et supérieur du grand séminaire. En 1921, il remplaçait le père Collins comme conseiller général et venait à Lyon. Il le restera jusqu'en 1925, mais continuera à assurer les cours d'Ecriture sainte au grand séminaire jusqu'en 1929. A cette date, le père était nommé professeur à Hastings, mais son grand désir était de partir, malgré son âge, pour les missions.

En 1931, ce désir fut exaucé et le père Mac Gettigan est nommé au vicariat de la Nigeria Occidentale. Mgr Broderick lui confie les charges de procureur du vicariat et de professeur de théologie au grand séminaire d'Assaba. Le missionnaire se met tout entier à son travail avec son dévouement habituel.

Il mourut de la malaria après quelques jours de forte fièvre.

Father James McGETTIGAN (1881 - 1932)

James McGettigan was born in Glenvar, Letterkenny, Co Donegal, in the diocese of Raphoe, on 23 December 1881. He died from malaria, at Asaba, Nigeria, on 16 September 1932.

James (Jim) received his early education at the National school in Glenvar, after which he spent 6 years employed in a local firm. In 1902, when he was 21 years old, he entered the Society's apostolic school at Wilton, Cork. Completing his secondary schooling there, in 1906 he went on to the Society's seminary at Cours Gambetta, Lyon, France, studying philosophy and theology until 191l. Jim took his oath of Society membership on 17 October 1909 and was ordained a priest in the seminary chapel at Lyon, on 9 July 1911. The ordaining prelate was Bishop Paul Pellet, Superior General of the Society. Jim was the only Irishman in the group ordained on that day.

Jim was ordained at a time when the Irish Province of the Society was in the process of formation. The Province was in fact erected in May 1912. One of the most serious challenges facing the young Province, with its small complement of 13 priests, was supplying staff for its various colleges in Ireland, to which growing numbers of aspirants were coming forward. There was also the Liberian mission (entrusted to the Province on its foundation) to be adequately staffed and there were funds to be gathered. It was not surprising that after ordination Jim, who showed an aptitude for teaching and administration, should be retained in Ireland to work in the colleges and assist in the management of the Province.

Immediately after ordination Jim was appointed to teach at St. Joseph's college, Wilton, serving there until 1913. Wilton prepared students for leaving certificate or matriculation, in a three year cycle. Jim joined a staff led by Michael Rowan and which included Joseph Butler and Joseph Crawford. Jim's next assignment was to St. Joseph's seminary, Blackrock Road, Cork, where he taught dogma and scripture (from 1913) and was bursar (from 1914). Jim became superior of the seminary in 1917. In 1918, at the first Irish Provincial Assembly, he was elected vice Provincial to William Butler, and was re appointed superior of the seminary. In 1921 Jim was posted to the staff of the Lyon seminary where he taught Scripture and English. In the following year he replaced Michael Collins as councillor to the Superior General at the Society's headquarters in Lyon, a post he occupied until 1925. He remained on teaching in the seminary until 1928. In that year he joined the staff of the major seminary of the Dutch Province which was situated at Ore Place, Hastings, in the south of England. There he taught dogmatic theology and canon law.

Jim's greatest desire, despite his age, was to go to Africa. In 1931 his wish was granted and he was appointed to the vicariate of Western Nigeria, the first mission in Nigeria to be entrusted to the Irish Province, when Thomas Broderick was nominated vicar apostolic in 1918. Jim sailed to Africa with a group of fourteen confreres, most of whom had been ordained some months earlier. On his arrival, in October 1931, Bishop Broderick appointed Jim procurator for the vicariate, in charge of its finances, a post to which he was well suited, given his experience as bursar in Blackrock. In addition to this post Jim was appointed to the staff of St. Paul's major inter vicarial seminary, which was situated in Asaba, headquarters of the jurisdiction. There were twelve seminarians from several jurisdictions, one studying theology, seven studying philosophy and four learning Latin. This institution was to be transferred from Asaba to Benin City in 1938, and subsequently (in 1956) to Ibadan. It produced almost all the indigenous clergy for south west, west and northern Nigeria until the establishment of a seminary in the north in 1968.

Jim had a strong constitution, described by one of his colleagues in Africa as 'the strongest Father in Nigeria and likely to be among the longest lived'. Yet he was to die from a fever contracted a little over a year after his arrival, which carried him off within a week. Bishop Broderick, who had just returned to Asaba after attending the Eucharistic Congress in Ireland, wrote to the Irish Provincial, Stephen Harrington, on 24 September giving information about Jim's death. 'On Saturday, September 10th, he (Jim) said he felt cold and wore over his soutane a black alpaca coat. On the evening of Sunday, September 11th, Fr. McGettigan took his meal and then went for a walk with Fr. (Eugene) Strub (superior of the seminary). On Monday he complained of a cough, and wore his black coat. On Tuesday he was confined to his room and rested on an easy chair. On Wednesday he said Mass, although his temperature was 102 degrees Fahrenheit. On Thursday, September 15th, he was little different from the previous day. Early on Friday morning I visited him and took his temperature, which was 105 degrees. I immediately wired the medical doctor at Onitsha; he came only two hours after my wire. While awaiting the doctor Fr. McGettigan became delirious. When the doctor arrived he held out no hope whatever'. Jim was given the last sacraments and died moments later. On September 17th a solemn Requiem Mass was celebrated, attended not only by all the Catholics of Asaba but also by many members of the CMS (Church Missionary Society the main Protestant denomination)

He is buried in Asaba.