Société des Missions Africaines –Province d'Irlande

né le 4 septembre 1915 à Brockagh dans l'archidiocèse de Tuam, Irlande membre de la SMA le 29 juin 1937 prêtre le 22 décembre 1940 décédé le 5 février 1989

1941-1942 Ballinafad, collège, directeur 1942-1946 Wilton, directeur 1942-1943, études supérieures 1946-1969 missionnaire au Nigeria 1946-1965, diocèse de Bénin City 1965-1969, diocèse de Warri 1969-1971 en Irlande 1971-1989 missionnaire au Nigeria 1971-1973, diocèse de Bénin City 1973-1984, diocèse d'Issele-Uku 1984-1989, diocèse de Warri décédé à Sapele, Nigeria, le 5 février 1989, à l'âge de 73 ans

Father Joseph Francis STEPHENS (1915 - 1989)

Joseph Stephens was born at Brockagh, Corofin, Co Galway, in the archdiocese of Tuam, on 4 September 1915. He died at Sapele hospital, Nigeria, on 5 February 1989.

Joseph (Joe) received his secondary education at the Sacred Heart college, Ballinafad, Co Mayo and at St. Joseph's college, Wilton, Cork (1930 1934). Joe was one of a group from his class who remained on in Wilton for a further year, during which he attended lectures in philosophy and education at U.C.C. When in the autumn of 1935 he entered the Society's novitiate at Kilcolgan, Co Galway, he also commenced lectures at U.C.G.. In September 1937 he was awarded an honours B.A. degree. On 29 June of the same year, having completed his novitiate, he was admitted as a member of the Society. Joe studied theology at Dromantine, Co Down, between 1937 1941 and was ordained a priest at St. Colman's cathedral, Newry, by Bishop Edward Mulhern of Dromore diocese, on 22 December 1940. He was one of a group of nineteen ordained on that day.

Joe was ordained during the darkest days of the second world war when the prospect of securing a passage to Africa was remote. His record during his student days clearly marked him out for a teaching ministry, and within a year of his ordination he was appointed to the staff of the Sacred Heart college, Ballinafad, where he was director of students. On the completion of the academic year he was transferred to the Wilton staff in order to afford him the opportunity for further studies at U.C.C. In June 1943 he was awarded a higher diploma in education and remained on at Wilton until 1946, serving for most of the time as a very capable teacher and director of students.

Joe took up a new assignment in the vicariate of Asaba Benin on l January 1947. He was to remain in the mid west region of Nigeria until his death in February 1989. When Joe arrived Bishop P.J. Kelly, then vicar apostolic, was in the process of developing secondary schools which were in great demand by the people, and which benefited from government subsidies. The most significant development of this time was to come within three years of Joe's arrival, when the Nigerian hierarchy was erected (1950) and the vicariate became a diocese in its own right, namely the diocese of Benin City.

Joe served in the diocese until 1965 when he was incorporated into the newly established Warri diocese (founded in 1964 from a division of Benin City). In April 197l Joe returned to Benin City and from September 1973 he ministered in the newly created diocese of Issele Uku (formed from a further division of the original Benin City diocese). In December 1984 Joe returned to Warri diocese where he served out his remaining years.

Joe was a great educationalist, who enjoyed a long and illustrious career as a teacher and principal in various renowned educational institutions, including: St. Malachy's college, Sapele; St. Thomas' college, Ibusa; St. Patrick's college, Asaba; Immaculate Conception college, Benin City and St. John Bosco's college, Ubiaja. In November 1984 Joe attended the silver jubilee celebrations of St. Malachy's college, where he had been principal. He died while chaplain in the same school. His Requiem Mass was celebrated in the Sacred Heart cathedral, Warri.

A colleague wrote the following: 'Joe was a great sportsman. All through his life he had a very active interest in Gaelic football, hurling, soccer, rugby, horse racing, and boxing. He enjoyed competing and he enjoyed winning. On the playing fields of St. Malachy's Sapele, Joe could be just as excited as any of his students when they scored a goal (especially if they happened to be playing against the school of his great friend and rival, Jerry Cadogan, namely St Peter Claver's, Aghalokpe!). Joe had an unique personality. He exercised an extraordinary influence over those who knew him well, especially his students. When he returned for the silver jubilee celebrations of St. Malachy's in 1984, his ex-students persuaded him to remain on as chaplain to the school. Joe loved Ireland but he also loved Nigeria. Because of ill-health in his later years he twice attempted to retire in Ireland but each time the longing for Nigeria brought him back.'

He is buried in Agbarho, Warri, Nigeria.