Société des Missions Africaines –Province d'Irlande

né le 17 mai 1910 à Cork dans le diocèse de Cork, Irlande membre de la SMA le 10 juin 1933 prêtre le 21 décembre 1935 décédé le 11 mars 1970

1936-1966 missionnaire à la Côte du Bénin diocèse de Lagos Effon, Ondo, Ekiti, Topo 1966-1970 Ballinlough, malade, en famille décédé à Cork, Irlande, le 11 mars 1970, à l'âge de 60 ans

Francis O'Shea was born in Cork (the family address was 'Rosedale' Ballinlough Road), on 17 May 1910. He died in the Bon Secours hospital, Cork, on 11 March 1970.

Francis (Frank) came from a family which provided the S.M.A. with three priests, all brothers; he was the youngest of the three, the others being John A. (+1902) and Kevin (+1908). A sister, Sr. Mary Teresita, joined the Mercy convent, Kinsale. Frank studied in the Sacred Heart college, Ballinafad, Co Mayo (1925 27) and St. Joseph's college, Wilton, Cork, (1927 1930), before entering the Society's novitiate and house of philosophy, at Kilcolgan, Co Galway. He studied theology in the major seminary, at Dromantine, Co Down, from 1932 1936. It was in Dromantine too, on 10 June 1933, that he was received as a member of the Society. Frank was ordained a priest, together with his brother Kevin and nineteen other classmates, at St. Colman's cathedral, Newry, by Bishop Edward Mulhern of Dromore diocese, on 21 December 1935.

After ordination Frank was appointed to the vicariate of the Bight of Benin, in south western Nigeria. He was to minister in the vicariate between 1936-1966. During this lengthy period he witnessed the rapid expansion of the Church throughout the vast territory, the establishment of separate jurisdictions in Ondo-Ilorin (1943), Oyo (1949), and Ibadan (1952); and the erection of Lagos as an archdiocese and metropolitan see for western Nigeria (1950). Three years after his retirement from Africa in 1966, Ijebu country became a diocese and three years further on, the Ekiti country, where he spent several years, also achieved diocesan status.

Frank played an important part in the development of the Church in western Nigeria. His first appointment was to the district of Effon, where John Deane was superior. The principal station of Effon had been founded in 1915. By 1936 there was a Catholic community of some 2,500 members and many catechumens. In the year that Frank came there, Effon district had six Catholic marriages, which was a good indication of the progress that had been made over the years. Early in 1937 Frank was appointed to Ondo district where the first residential mission had been established in 1915. He was to spend three and a half years assisting James McAfee in this large district which had some 3,500 Catholic members and some 15 outstations. Frank spent the last six months of his first tour of duty at Topo island, near Badagry, where in addition to a mission the vicariate had a coconut plantation (it produced the 'cash crop', copra, used for cosmetics and soap), a boys boarding school, a convent and orphanage. Frank sailed for Ireland in February 1942. His return journey to Nigeria, in July 1943, was eventful. He sailed on board the S.S. California, a troop-carrying liner, which was bombed and sunk four days out to sea, with considerable loss of life. Fortunately all the missionaries - there were some 30, both men and women - were picked up by the Corvette Moyola and were landed safely at Casablanca.

Frank was to serve in the Lagos jurisdiction for a further five tours of duty. Although he was invalided to Ireland seriously ill with anaemia in 1950, he returned to his mission within a year. He is particularly associated with the towns of Ado-Ekiti and Ondo, with Topo island, and with the great and small mission stations of Lagos city. Frank was a man who had a special predilection for the small out station communities, to which he trekked week after week. He also relished the challenge of the coconut plantation on Topo island which was an important source of income for the vicariate.

In 1966 Frank was invalided home suffering from an illness which was eventually to prove fatal. During these last years he was able to spend time with his family in Ballinlough. Frank was the first of the three O'Shea brothers to die. John died in May 197l while Kevin lived until October 1978. Frank is remembered as a man of retiring disposition, never a person to seek the limelight, who was extremely generous, not least with the many practical skills he possessed. One such skill, often called upon by his colleagues, was his mastery over clocks.

He is buried in Wilton cemetery.