Société des Missions Africaines –Province d'Irlande

né le 26 juillet 1922 à Youghal dans le diocèse de Cork, Irlande membre de la SMA le 1er juillet 1942 prêtre le 15 juin 1946 décédé le 2 octobre 1983

1946-1949 Cork, études universitaires de sciences 1949-1955 missionnaire au vicariat d’Asaba-Benin 1955-1959 Clough, prêtre assistant 1959-1973 diocèse de Bénin City 1964-1969 DRS Uromi 1973-1983 diocèse d’Issele-Uku décédé à Cork, Irlande, le 2 octobre 1983, à l'âge de 61 ans

Richard Beausang was born near Youghal, Co Cork, in the diocese of Cloyne, on 28 July 1922. He died at the Cork regional hospital on 2 October 1983.

Although born outside Cork, Richard (Dick) lived in the cathedral parish on Cork's northside, and it was here also that he received his secondary education, attending the renowned Christian Brothers North Monastery school between 1936-1940. He came to the Society's novitiate and house of philosophy, at Kilcolgan, Co Galway, in the autumn of 1940. Two years later, on 1 July 1942, he was admitted as a member of the Society. Dick studied theology in the Society's seminary, at Dromantine, Co Down, between 1942 1946. He was ordained a priest by Bishop Eugene O'Doherty of Dromore diocese, at St. Colman's cathedral, Newry, on 15 June 1946. He was one of a group of fourteen ordained on that day.

Dick was ordained at a time when new opportunities for the educational apostolate were becoming available in the British West African colonies. Dick was one of those sent by his superiors to acquire a university degree so as to be able to teach in catholic secondary schools. He spent two years at U.C.C. studying science. In 1949 he was appointed to the vicariate of Asaba Benin, [formerly part of the much larger vicariate of Western Nigeria]. When he came to the region he found a strongly established missionary Church. He came also on the eve of a watershed in the history of the western region, when the vicariate was erected as the diocese of Benin City, under Bishop Patrick Kelly.

Dick's first appointment when he reached Nigeria early in 1950 was to St. Patrick's college, Asaba, where Andrew O'Rourke was principal. Dick taught science in St. Patrick's for a year. However the narrow limits of the classroom did not satisfy him and Bishop Kelly yielded to his entreaties, appointing him assistant priest in the parish of Mary Immaculate, Ogwashi-Uku. In 1953 Dick was transferred to the Sacred Heart parish, in Warri. Dick returned to Ireland on his first home leave in January 1955. At the time Society superiors were seeking a director of students for the Province's novitiate at Kilcolgan and Dick was appointed to this responsible post. He spent four years at Kilcolgan, helping to train the missionaries of the future. In October 1959 Dick returned to Benin City diocese where he was given charge of Holy Cross parish, Benin City. A year later he was appointed parish priest of Ekpoma, in Ishan division. Dick took charge of St. Patrick's parish, Sapele in 1961. In January 1963, home once more on leave, Dick was appointed professor of philosophy in the major seminary at Dromantine.

Twenty months later he returned to Benin City diocese, where he was appointed deputy 'regional superior'. He occupied this important post until March 1969, combining it with the position of parish priest of Uromi where the regional superior's residence was situated. Dick returned to Ogwashi-Uku parish in 1969. In July 1973 several districts of the diocese (including Agbor, Ogwashi-Uku, Asaba, Ibusa and Issele-Uku) were detached and formed into the separate jurisdiction of Issele-Uku diocese, under Bishop Anthony Okonkwo Gbuji. Dick was one of 10 Irish S.M.A.'s who were incorporated into the new diocese. He was posted to St. Paul's cathedral parish, Issele-Uku. In 1975 Dick was assigned to St. Augustine's parish, Ibusa. Three years later he took charge of St. John the Baptist's parish, Agbor. His last assignment was the foundation of a new parish at Cable Point, Asaba. The last post of responsibility conferred on Dick was that of vicar general of the diocese. This honour and responsibility was given him on 9 February 1981.

Always a pastoral man, Dick was a kind, cheerful, and hospitable host to anyone calling at his mission. He was greatly admired and loved by the confreres and it is particularly fitting that the parish of St. Patrick's, Cablepoint, Asaba, which he pioneered, has now become an S.M.A. parish, especially assigned to the Society by the bishop. It was equally fitting that it was here also the bishop, priests, religious and laity of the diocese gathered to celebrate a requiem on learning of Dick's death. Physically, he was a very strong man, who never spared himself. However the long years spent in the tropics took their toll. Finally, on 5 September 1983 he was invalided home suffering from inoperable cancer. After a brief period in the Bon Secours hospital he was transferred to the Cork regional hospital where he died. Dick faced his final illness with an exemplary courage and faith. His younger brother, Patrick, joined the Society and was ordained a priest in 1961.

In 1997 another of Richard's brothers, Brother Sean Beausang of the Abbey School in Newry, wrote a tribute to his brother in Irish. Here is a brief extract: 'Bhí Risteard an-tugtha don chultúr Gaelach agus go háirithe don Ghaeilge. Bhí sé an-tógtha le bronntanas a thug mé dó blianta ó shoin, An Bíobla Naofa agus thóg sé ar ais leis é chun na Nigéire. Lá a churtha thug an t-Athair John Quinlan ar ais chugam é agus thug mé faoi deara go raibh rian a phinn i ngach áit agus Gaeilge na Mumhan curtha insteach in áit Ghaeilge Chonnachta. Bhí togha na Gaeilge aige agus ní dhearnamar comhfhreagras riamh ach amháin i nGaelige. Mhúscail sé ionam an grá a bhí aige féin dár dteanga.
"Dein d'fhaoistin is dein síocháin led' ghinniúin féinig
Is led' thig-se féin, is ná tréig iad;
Ní dual do neach a thig ná a threabh a thréigean". (Seán ó'Ríordáin) Go raibh leaba shuthain aige i measc naoimph Éireann.'

He is buried in the Wilton cemetery.