Société des Missions Africaines – Province d’Irlande
Monsieur Patrick SHEEHAN

Monsieur l'abbé Patrick SHEENAN (1882 - 1906)

A Mallow (Irlande), dans sa famille, le 23 novembre 1906, retour à Dieu de Monsieur l'abbé Patrick Sheenan, à l'âge de 24 ans.

Patrick Sheenan naquit en 1882 dans le diocèse de Cloyne, en Irlande. Il fit le serment en 1903 ou 1904. Malade, il alla se reposer en notre maison de Jersey. Mgr Pellet lui écrit: "Merci de tout cœur de bien vouloir offrir vos souffrances pour la Société dont vous êtes l'enfant, et pour les Noirs de nos missions auxquels nous avez consacré votre vie."

L'abbé Sheenan était pleinement abandonné à la volonté de Dieu, mais il s'inquiétait d'être à la charge de la Société. Mgr Pellet le rassura: "Il n'y a rien de plus faux. Encore une fois, vous êtes l'enfant de la Société et elle sera heureuse de prendre soin de vous."

L'abbé se retira dans sa famille.

Seminarian Patrick SHEEHAN (1878 - 1906)

Patrick was born at 'The Abbey', Mourne-Abbey, Mallow, Co Cork, in the diocese of Cloyne, on 13 May 1878. He died, with his family, on 27 November 1906.

Patrick came from a farming family in the North Cork area, not far from the town of Mallow. He was baptised at Burnfort church, Mourne-Abbey. Little more is known about his early life. It is probable that he worked on the family farm for some time before deciding to become a missionary priest. He studied at St. Joseph's college, Wilton, Cork, and then, as was the custom at that time, went over to Lyon, France, to the S.M.A. seminary, for his philosophical and theological studies. Many of the Irish students who followed this route did not persevere for a variety of reasons related to the conditions in which they pursued their studies. After 1910 when facilities to train the Irish at home were established the rate of perseverance rapidly increased. Patrick however completed his philosophy in Lyon and became a permanent member of the Society in 1903.

Patrick was in the second year of his theological studies when he was struck down by consumption. He was sent to recover in Jersey, where the Society had a house (Maison Saint-Sauveur, Bagatelle R.), but made little progress. He returned to die with his family in Ireland, breathing his last in the house where he was born. Only one member of his group which went to Lyon was ordained (John Corcoran who was ordained on 21 July 1907). Two of Patrick's nephews became priests in the diocese of Cloyne. His family continue to live in Mourne-Abbey.

He is buried in Whitechurch cemetery, Co Cork.