Société des Missions Africaines – Province d’Irlande

né le 23 janvier 1881 à Pleberstown dans le diocèse d’Ossory, Irlande membre de la SMA le 1er octobre 1899 prêtre le 17 juillet 1904 décédé le 30 septembre 1940

1912-1913 conseiller provincial 1913-1918 vice provincial 1918-1925 provincial 1925-1940 vice provincial décédé à Cork, Irlande, le 30 septembre 1940, à l’âge de 59 ans

A Cork (Irlande), le 30 septembre 1940, retour à Dieu du père William Butler, à l'âge de 59 ans.

Frère du père Joseph Butler, William naquit à Thomastown, dans le diocèse d'Ossory, en Irlande, en 1881. Il fit ses études à Cork et à Lyon. Il fit le serment en 1899. En 1902 il dut interrompre ses études pour un an pour cause de maladie. Il fut ordonné prêtre le 17 juillet 1904.

Le père Butler fut nommé professeur à Wilton, puis à Ballinafad en 1908. Vice-provincial en 1912, il aida le père Slatterry à lancer la province, tout en étant supérieur de Wilton. Elu provincial d'Irlande en 1918, il voit son mandat prolongé jusqu'en 1925. C'était un homme méthodique qui voulait la discipline pour tous. Caractère droit, impartial, il fit un très bon travail.

Très timide de nature, le père Butler eut préféré une seconde place, mais, acceptant le poste que lui confiaient ses confrères, il œuvra pour le bien de tous.

En 1925, le père Butler redevenait vice-provincial et assurait le supériorat du grand séminaire à Dromantine. En 1931, il restait vice-provincial, mais assurait le supériorat de la maison de Blackrock Road, à Cork. L'assemblée de 1937 le laissait à son poste. La province d'Irlande doit donc beaucoup au père Butler qui se trouva aux postes clés pendant plus de 28 ans.

Il n'eut jamais une très forte santé, mais sut avec courage et prudence faire face à toutes ses obligations pour la bonne marche de la province.

Father William BUTLER (1881 - 1940)

William Butler was born at Pleberstown, Thomastown, Co Kilkenny, in the diocese of Ossory, on 23 January 1881. He died in the Bon Secours home, Cork, on 30 September 1940.

William received his secondary education in St. Joseph's college, Wilton, Cork (1894 1898). He then entered the Society's seminary at Lyon, France, where he commenced the study of philosophy. A year later, on 1 October 1899, he was admitted as a member of the Society. For his theological studies William was sent to the Faculté Catholique at the University of Lyon, commencing his course in October 1901. However a year later, in January 1902, he fell ill and was invalided home to Ireland. He resumed his studies at Lyon from September 1903 concluding his course in July 1904. William was ordained a priest in the seminary chapel at Lyon, on 17 July 1904. The ordaining prelate was Bishop Paul Pellet, Vicar General of the Society.

At the time of William's ordination the Irish branch of the Society had not yet achieved the autonomy of a Province. However increasing numbers of students anxious to join the Society were now flocking to the branch's secondary school at Wilton. Pressure too was growing for the establishment of a major seminary in Ireland, which would provide for the philosophical and theological formation of these students. It was not surprising, therefore, that in view of the need for good teachers and William's excellent academic record during his student days, after ordination he should receive an appointment to the colleges of the Society in Ireland. He was sent to teach first at Wilton where Joseph Zimmerman, superior of the Irish branch, was also house superior. Other members of the teaching staff were Michael Rowan and Tom Hurst. In addition to his duties in the school, William helped to teach English to six continental members of the Society, who were destined to minister in British colonies where English was required. In 1907, with Wilton full to over-flowing, Fr. Zimmermann decided to found a second secondary college in a property given to the Society by Llewellyn Blake, a landowner in the west of Ireland. William was chosen to be first principal of this school, known subsequently as the Sacred Heart college, Ballinafad (Co Mayo), which opened its doors on 23 March 1908. Henceforth Ballinafad would provide intermediate education, while Wilton would take pupils through the final three years of their secondary schooling.

The Irish Province was formally erected in May 1912 and William, who already had demonstrated good leadership and administrative qualities, was destined to play a vital part in shaping its course. On the erection of the Province he was appointed vice Provincial and in this capacity helped the first Provincial, Stephen Kyne, and his successor (in 1913), Maurice Slattery, to launch the Province successfully. This was no mean achievement. During this critical period there was opposition to the Society from some members of the hierarchy and from priests and laity who were supporters of Fr. Zimmermann (effective founder of the Province) who had been withdrawn from Ireland by his French superiors in 191l. In Wilton three Irish members of staff had refused to accept Fr. Zimmermann's removal, resulting in the closure of the college in the summer of 191l. It was William Butler who re opened the Wilton to students in 1912, quickly restoring its stability.

William remained on as superior at Wilton until June 1918, when at the first Provincial Assembly he succeeded Maurice Slattery as first elected Provincial of the Irish Province (Fr. Slattery had replaced Fr. Kyne who had been appointed directly by the Superior General) and at a subsequent Assembly saw his mandate extended until 1925. During his first term he visited the Province's missions on the West Coast of Africa (in Liberia and in Nigeria), and saw conditions for himself in every place. It was under his administration too (in September 1918) that a second property, near Kilcolgan, Co Galway, given to the Society by Lleweylln Blake, was opened as a novitiate and house of philosophy. It was during this period also (in 1921) that the Province established the first of two missions to African-Americans in Belleville diocese, Illinois, a project which was not universally welcomed at the time, but was to prove a far seeing measure both for the Province and the Society.

At the Provincial Assembly of 1925 William was elected vice Provincial to Maurice Slattery and in the following year became superior of the major seminary. It was William who supervised the relocation of the seminary from Blackrock Road, Cork, to Dromantine, Co Down, in September 1926. At the elections of 1931 William was re appointed vice-Provincial (this time to Stephen Harrington) and became superior of the S.M.A. house at Blackrock Road, where the headquarters of the Province were located. The Assembly of 1937 re appointed him to this post.

William occupied key positions in the Province for more than 28 years. A retiring man by temperament, he would have much preferred to work in the background. In his approach to administration he was calm, prudent and methodic, a perfect foil for the instinctive, forceful, extrovert Maurice Slattery. William was the younger brother of Joseph Butler S.M.A., born in 1879, ordained in 1902 and died in 1930.

He is buried in Wilton cemetery.