Société des Missions Africaines –Province d'Irlande

né le 17 avril 1896 à Kilmeedy dans le diocèse de Limerick, Irlande membre de la SMA le 9 février 1923 prêtre le 26 mai 1923 décédé le 31 janvier 1953

1923-1950 missionnaire au Nigeria Asaba, Kano, Lagos… 1950-1953 Blackrock Road, Cork, malade soins décédé à Cork, Irlande, le 31 janvier 1953 à l'âge de 56 ans

Le père Michael O'FLYNN (1896 - 1953)

Le 31 janvier 1953, à Cork, en Irlande, retour à Dieu du père Michael O'Flynn, à l'âge 56 ans.

Michael O'Flynn naquit dans le diocèse de Limerick en 1896. Il fit ses études dans son diocèse et au collège irlandais à Rome. En 1921, il entrait à notre séminaire de Blackrock. Admis au serment le 9 février 1923, il était ordonné prêtre le 29 juin suivant.

Il travailla plus de 25 ans au Nigeria, soit dans les difficiles missions du nord où il débuta, soit à partir de 1939 à Lagos. Intelligent, doué pour l'organisation, il fut à plusieurs reprises conseiller du visiteur ou de l'Ordinaire. Très généreux, il veut le succès et s'en donne la peine. Il eut souvent à lutter contre son tempérament vif et exubérant, mais restera pour tous le missionnaire infatigable et dévoué. Il fut aussi inspecteur des écoles primaires.

Rentré bien malade en 1950, il continua à travailler pour l'Afrique par la prière et la souffrance patiemment offerte à Dieu.

Father Michael O'FLYNN (1896 - 1953)

Michael O'Flynn was born in Kilmeedy, Co Limerick, in the diocese of Limerick, on l7 April 1896. He died in the Mercy home, Cork, on 3l January 1953.

Born into a family of four brothers and one sister, Michael ('M.F' to his missionary colleagues) received his secondary education in the Cistercian college at Mount Melleray, Cappoquin, Co Waterford, between the years 19l2 19l6. Deciding to serve as a priest in one of the Irish Diaspora missions overseas, he pursued his philosophical studies at the seminary attached to the Mount Melleray school between 19l6 19l8. He then entered the largest and oldest of Ireland's growing number of seminaries serving overseas missions, namely All Hallows college, where in 19l8 he commenced his theological studies. He went to Rome in 1919, studying theology at Propaganda college. After two years in Rome he made up his mind to dedicate himself to Africa. Accordingly, in February 1922 he transferred to the S.M.A.'s seminary at Blackrock Road, Cork, for his last year of theology. During his time in Rome he was awarded a B.D. degree from Propaganda college (192l). Michael became a member of the Society on 9 February 1923 and was ordained a priest in the Society's public church at Blackrock Road, on 29 June 1923, by Bishop Thomas Broderick, vicar apostolic of Western Nigeria. The other members of his class had been ordained on 26 May 1923, on which occasion Michael received minor orders.

Michael worked for more than 25 years in Nigeria. After ordination he was appointed to the vicariate of Western Nigeria whose superior, Bishop Broderick, had ordained him some months earlier. At the time Bishop Broderick had at his disposal a team of a dozen Irish and five continental missionary priests. During his tenure as bishop (1918-1933) he greatly expanded the scope of the apostolate, pushing out the boundaries of the Church, building large numbers of schools, training teachers to staff them, establishing catechist networks to serve the increasing number of outstations, and also intensifying efforts to train a local clergy. Michael played an important part in this work during the 6 years he spent in the vicariate. On his arrival, in November 1923, he was stationed at Asaba, while he studied the local language and was gently introduced to the missionary life.

At the end of 10 months, having passed his language examination and having received faculties to hear confessions, he was given a substantive appointment: that of general manager of the Asaba schools. In this capacity he had to supervise four elementary schools with their 15 teachers and 500 pupils. In August of the following year he was posted to the town of Ogwashi-Uku and remained there for two years. Next he was appointed to Issele-Uku where he was accused by the Political Officer of meddling in political affairs regarding the payment of tax. Michael, in his own defence, contended that he was acting in the interests of a people suffering oppression. Bishop Broderick was compelled to withdraw him and in August 1927 he was appointed professor of philosophy in the major seminary at Asaba (a seminary which at that time served all the Society's missions in Nigeria).

In 1929, along with William Porter (who was nominated first prefect of the jurisdiction), Michael was transferred to the newly-erected prefecture of Northern Nigeria. This prefecture, which had been originally established in 1911 (with the inaccurate title 'prefecture of Eastern Nigeria') and whose boundaries were greatly enlarged in 1922, had its ecclesiastical capital in the great town of Kano. Muslim influence was strong although there were large populations which practised traditional religions. Christianity had as yet made few inroads, although many of the Igbo immigrants from the east who came north with the railway were Christians. Michael spent a tour of five years in the prefecture. He was first posted to Zaria mission. Two years later he was appointed superior of Kaduna mission (now the seat of an archdiocese). In 1933 he was assigned to Udei station, two of whose many secondary stations, Makurdi and Kafanchan, are now the seat of dioceses. With the division of the northern prefecture in 1934, Michael was assigned to the Jos division (under William Lumley), working in that new prefecture until May 1938. Mgr. Lumley re-appointed him superior of Udei mission where he was assisted by Joe Kett and Peter Bennett. John Sheehy, the 'visitor' responsible to the Irish Provincial for the spiritual and temporal welfare of the members, was also resident in the Udei mission house.

In November 1939, after leave in Ireland, Michael was re-assigned to the south-west, to the vicariate of the Bight of Benin, which in 1943 became the vicariate of Lagos. During the war years he served in mission stations at Abeokuta, Lafiaji and Ebute Metta. In August 1947 he fell ill and was invalided home. After three years on the staff at Blackrock Road his health again broke down and in January 1953 he was discovered to be incurably ill. He died in his 57th year. Michael's brother, James, became a missionary with the Holy Ghost Fathers, ministering in Kenya for 35 years. Michael was an uncle of James Harrold, a member of the American Province of the Society who was ordained in 1942.

He is buried at Wilton cemetery.