Société des Missions Africaines – Province d'Irlande

né le 14 janvier 1885 à Dublin dans le diocèse de Dublin, Irlande membre de la SMA le 1er novembre 1918 prêtre le 29 juin 1921 décédé le 24 septembre 1939

missionnaire au Nigeria pendant 8 ans décédé à Dublin, Irlande, le 24 septembre 1939, à l’âge de 54 ans

A Dublin (Irlande), le 24 septembre 1939, retour à Dieu du père Nicholas Clery, à l'âge de 54 ans.

Nicholas Clery naquit à Dublin (Irlande) en 1885. Après ses études secondaires, il entrait aux Missions Africaines. Il fit le serment en 1918 et fut ordonné prêtre en juin 1821.

Le père Clery fut d'abord professeur de philosophie au noviciat de Kilcogan, puis, à partir de 1925, supérieur de ce même noviciat. Le père Clery était un prêtre pieux qui désira longtemps entrer dans un ordre contemplatif. Il désirait avant tout faire la volonté de Dieu et, tout en ayant la nostalgie de la vie contemplative, il resta aux Missions Africaines. Il s'efforça de mettre en pratique l'esprit de la Société et de le communiquer aux autres. C'était un homme parfaitement maître de lui-même, très doux, un peu réservé.

Très mortifié, ne s'occupant guère de sa santé, pour ses habits et pour sa nourriture il savait se contenter de peu. Il puisait sa force dans de longs moments passés près du Christ eucharistique. Chaque nuit, il faisait au moins une heure d'adoration. Il laissa ainsi une forte empreinte sur les novices qu'il eut à former.

En 1931, le père Clery partait pour le vicariat de la Nigeria Occidentale. Il y travailla jusqu'à sont retour pour cause de maladie en 1939.

Father Nicholas J. CLERY (1885 - 1939)

Nicholas Clery was born in Dublin (his address was 351, Kimmage Road), in the archdiocese of Dublin, on 14 January 1885. He died in St. John of God's hospital, Stillorgan, Co Dublin, on 24 September 1939.

Nicholas received his secondary education at the Christian Brothers school, Synge Street, Dublin, and then worked for 14 years in the Land Commission. He was 31 years old when he decided to become a missionary. He studied philosophy and theology in St. Joseph's seminary, Blackrock Road, Cork (1916-1921), where he was received as a member of the Society on 1 November 1918. He was ordained a priest by Bishop Thomas Broderick, vicar apostolic of Western Nigeria, in St. Joseph's church, adjoining the seminary, on 29 June 1921. He was one of a group of ten ordained on that day.

Nicholas' maturity, excellent scholastic record, his grasp of the theory and practice of spiritual principles - all amply demonstrated during his seminary years - made him eminently suited for formation work within the Province. Consequently, after ordination he was assigned to the Society's novitiate and house of philosophy which had been established at Kilcolgan, Co Galway, in 1918. Between 1921-1925 he taught philosophy to the aspirants and was also assistant master of novices. His superior reported to the Provincial early in 1923 that Nicholas' 'devotedness to his work and his genuine piety have done much real good'. However Nicholas was unsettled and for a while contemplated joining a religious order. He applied for admission to the Franciscan order (at Merchant's Quay, Dublin). In July 1923, however, having made a retreat to discern God's will in the matter, Nicholas decided to remain in the S.M.A., giving sterling service during the remaining years of his life both in Ireland and Africa. From 1925-1931 he was both superior of Kilcolgan and master of novices. During these years he was to play a critical role in the spiritual and scholastic formation of aspirants to the Society, preparing them for the rigors of the missionary life which lay ahead.

With the election of a new Provincial administration in 1931, under the leadership of Stephen Harrington, Nicholas was appointed to the vicariate of Western Nigeria. Bishop Broderick, who had ordained Nicholas, had been appointed first vicar apostolic of this mission in 1918. In 1932 he had attended the Eucharistic Congress in Dublin, but had not returned to his mission because of serious illness. It was Patrick J. Kelly (later bishop of Benin City diocese) who, as pro-vicar apostolic, gave Nicholas his first appointment. Nicholas was assigned to the staff of St. Paul's inter-vicarial seminary in Asaba. This institution provided courses in Latin and also the full range of philosophical and theological training for seminarians from jurisdictions in the south, west and north of Nigeria. When Nicholas came on the staff there were 14 students in formation. Today this seminary, re-located in two centres, at Ibadan and Ekpoma, has in excess of 300 students.

In June 1933 Nicholas was transferred to Lokoja district. This district had four residential stations, Lokoja, Okeni, Kabba and Oka. Nicholas was appointed superior of Kabba mission, which had been first established in 1921. Nicholas lived alone in Kabba, in charge of a catholic community of over 600 members and 300 catechumens. He was assisted by six catechists and three elementary school teachers. Kabba had a large hinterland and much of Nicholas's time was taken up visiting the 19 secondary stations in his area. In October 1933 Bishop Broderick died and was succeeded in February 1934 by Leo Hale Taylor. It was Bishop Taylor who re-appointed Nicholas to Kabba on his return from his first home leave, in October 1936. In June 1937 Nicholas fell ill with pernicious anaemia and was invalided home to Ireland. His condition deteriorated and eventually, in March 1939 he was hospitalised with little hope of recovery. He was 54 years old when he died.

Nicholas was widely recognised within the Province as an ascetic holy priest, with a strong attraction for the contemplative life. There was also a literary side to Nicholas. He was widely read and was one of a group of missionaries who wrote frequently for the African Missionary. Nicholas wrote 14 articles on a wide range of missionary subjects, showing a deep appreciation of the peoples of mid-western Nigeria and their cultures.

He is buried in Wilton cemetery.