Société des Missions Africaines – Province des Etats-Unis 
Le Père John AHERN

né le 25 mars 1891 à Hamilton dans le diocèse de Cloyne, Irlande membre de la SMA le 25 octobre 1913 prêtre le 24 juin 1916 décédé le 22 novembre 1949

1916-1925 Ballinafad, Kilcogan, Liverpool 1925-1949 archidiocèse de Cincinnati (USA), en paroisse décédé à Hamilton, Etats-Unis, le 22 novembre 1949 à l’âge de 58 ans

Le père John AHERN (1891 - 1949)

A Hamilton (U.S.A.), dans l'Etat d'Ohio, le 22 novembre 1949, retour à Dieu du père John Ahern, à l'âge de 58 ans.

Jean Ahern naquit dans le diocèse de Cloyne, en Irlande, en 1891. Il fit ses études dans les maisons de la province et fut ordonné prêtre en 1916. Professeur à Ballinafad ou économe à Kilcogan, le père Ahern se découragea surtout en raison de sa santé. Il était même annihilé par toutes les préoccupations relatives à cette pauvre santé. Aussi, après deux ans passés comme aumônier à Liverpool, le père Ahern demanda-t-il la permission de chercher un Ordinaire aux Etats-Unis.

Il travailla dans le diocèse de Duluth, mais, n'ayant jamais été incardiné, il resta membre de la Société, dans la province d'Amérique.

Father John AHERN (1891 - 1949)

John Ahern was born at Killeagh, Co Cork, in the diocese of Cloyne, in 1891. He died in the Mercy hospital, at Hamilton, Ohio, U.S.A., on 22 November 1949.

John received his secondary education in St. Joseph's college, Wilton, Cork, between 1908‑1911 and pursued his seminary course at St. Joseph's seminary, Blackrock Road, Cork, between 1911‑1916. He was therefore a student during stirring times, when the Irish branch of the Society became a Province (May 1912), and when it received its first mission field, the prefecture of Liberia. In John's last year at Wilton, he saw the college closed and the students dispersed. This was the result of a disagreement between staff members and their superiors (in France) over the withdrawal from Cork of Joseph Zimmermann who had done so much to establish the Society in Ireland. Luckily John had completed his secondary education and was able to commence his philosophical and theological studies at the seminary established by Fr. Zimmermann. John was ordained a priest, by Bishop Thomas O'Callaghan O.P., of Cork diocese, in St. Joseph's church, Blackrock Road, on 24 June 1916. He was the only student ordained that year.

John became a priest at a time when the Province had less than two dozen priests for its ever growing commitments at home and in Africa. Wilton had re‑opened in 1912 and was now filled with students, a second school had been established at Ballinafad, Co Mayo, a novitiate was about to be opened at Kilcolgan, Co Galway, the seminary at Blackrock had to be staffed, funds had to be collected, and the Liberian mission field had to be maintained and supplied. John was one of those who was retained at home to assist in the Province's training program, a decision which would have caused him disappointment, but was not surprising given his delicate health. He spent the first two years of his ministry (1916-1918) teaching classics in the Sacred Heart college, Ballinafad. During this period he was also director of students. Between 1918-1920 he was attached to the staff of the novitiate at Kilcolgan, where he was assistant bursar. At this point John's superiors considered appointing him to Africa but eventually decided that his fragile health would not withstand the rigors of the tropics. So, after a year in the novitiate for brothers at Kineurry, near Westport Co Mayo, John was assigned to the 'procure' at Ullett Road, Sefton Park, Liverpool, where he looked after the needs of missionaries travelling to, or returning from, Africa.

In 1925 John obtained permission from his superiors to seek work in the U.S.A. He was to labour for the remainder of his life in the archdiocese of Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was welcomed by Archbishop McNicholas. He ministered mainly in the parish of the Holy Trinity, Middletown, Ohio. To the end of his life he remained a member of the Society, attending S.M.A. functions in America whenever he could, keeping in regular touch with his superiors and promoting the missions among his parishioners. He was especially friendly with Peter Harrington, who pioneered the Irish Province's mission to African-Americans in Southern Illinois. He also kept in close touch with Claude Taylor, pastor at Cairo, Illinois. John's sister was a member of the religious community at St. Francis convent, San Francisco, which ran a home for 'working girls' and for 'retired ladies'. John visited his sister regularly and always promoted the cause of the Society among the residents.

He is buried in Hamilton, Ohio, U.S.A.