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Booklet belonging to Fr John R MacMahon SJ containing the names of the Fathers who attended the 29th General Congregation of the Society of Jesus.

Letter from Fr Ladislaus Zabdyr SJ, Chikuni, PO Chisekesi, Northern Rhodesia to Irish Fr Provincial John R MacMahon SJ, St Francis Xavier's, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin thanking him for sending two Irish Jesuits to the mission. Asks if more men can be spared for work in the mission. Includes a copy of a reply remarking that more men cannot be spared.

Correspondence between the Air Ministry and Chaplains Branch,R.A.F. H.Q., Northern Ireland, mainly from Monsignor H. Beauchamp, (Principal Chaplain (R.C.) R.A.F.) and the Irish Fr Provincial (Laurence J. Kieran SJ, then from 8 September 1941, John MacMahon SJ) concerning the R.A.F.’s request for Catholic chaplains; Fr Tony MacSeumais’ acceptance of a post with the R.A.F. in July 1943 and Fr Joseph McSweeney’s acceptance in 1945. Includes;

• Letter from Mgr. Beauchamp to Fr MacMahon: ‘You are probably aware that I am very short of chaplains in the Royal Air Force. At many Stations there are as many as 300 young airmen who…have no chaplain to prepare them for their great ordeals…You probably know as well as I do the temptations that young Priests in the Services, particularly in the Royal Air Force come up against, hence you will know the special type of man that is wanted’ (12 March 1942, 1p.)
• Letter from G.J. Corboy, Senior Chaplain (R.C.), R.A.F. H.Q., Northern Ireland to Fr MacMahon: ‘I met Father Sweeney (sic) last week, when I was down, and I am very grateful to you for the offer of his services, as a R.A.F. Chaplain’ (30 April 1945, 1p.).

Correspondence with Dr John Charles McQuaid, Archbishop of Dublin (mainly holograph letters from the Archbishop and copies of Irish Fr Provincial’s replies) on various matters. Includes letters concerning :

• information for the Commission established to ‘investigate and report upon the existence and title of all collections for pious purposes in the Diocese of Dublin’;
• the supply of Altar wine to the Society;
• the appointment of Fr Thomas Counihan SJ to the Commission on Youth Unemployment;
• his request ‘not to use candles at the end of Retreats and Missions during the present war-circumstances’;
• the death of various Jesuits including Frs [Thomas Counihan], Michael Kirwan, James Tomkin, Laurence J. Kieran (former Provincial) and Vincent Byrne;
• circular comprising the decisions of the 1942 October Meeting of the Hierarchy;
• 1944 Decree concerning the education of Catholics in non-Catholic Schools, Colleges or Universities of the Dublin Diocese (See also ADMN/3/38);
• the proposed visit of Fr Adelard Dugré SJ, ‘formerly an Assistant of our late Father General and now an Assistant of our Father Vicar General’ to Ireland and his appointment with the Archbishop;
• the granting of diocesan faculties to various Jesuits and the results of diocesan examinations;
• the ‘Solemn Votive mass’ to be celebrated in the Pro-Cathedral on 25 June 1945 on the occasion of the Inauguration of the President, Seán T. Ó Ceallaigh (See also ADMN/3/59 and 76);
• copies of letters concerning the Archbishop’s instructions as to the ‘attitude to be adopted in regard to the strike declared by the Central Executive Committee of the Irish National Teachers’ Organization’ and the restoration of ‘normal conditions’ in the schools following the Teachers’ Strike;
• the collection by secondary schools of used clothing ‘for the very destitute young people of Europe, especially the Catholics of Hungary’;
• the answers of the Milltown Theological Faculty to certain questions posed ‘concerning the question of defining as a dogma of the Faith the doctrine that the Blessed Virgin Mary was assumed bodily into Heaven’;
• statistical reports on the Society in Ireland required for the ‘Relatio Status’ of the Archbishop to the Holy See and for the Annuario Pontificio;
• the appointment of Fr Thomas Counihan SJ to conduct the Thirty Days’ Exercises at Holy Cross College, Clonliffe in October 1947 and September 1948;
• proposals to purchase Churchtown House, Dundrum for use as a secondary school and the alternative plan to build a school on grounds adjoining Milltown Park (See also 1950s correspondence with Archbishop McQuaid);
• the institution of the ‘Tribunal for the Ordinary Informative Process in the Cause of the Beatification and Canonisation of the Servant of God, John Sullivan, Priest of your Society’ (24 October 1947, 1p.) (See also ADMN/3/24; 48 and 49);
• the purchase of Baymount Castle, Dollymount for use as a Retreat House (Manresa House) (See also ADMN/3/6 and 74) and
• letter of condolence following the fire at Milltown Park in 1949 (11 February 1949, 1p.).

Documents concerning Archbishop McQuaid's objections to the formation of a Sandymount-Ballsbridge group of Muintir na Tíre and Fr Edward J Coyne's involvement with the establishment of such a group (See also ADMN/3/29; 37; 39; 57). ‘I am not convinced that this Association has yet proved that it deserves a place in this Diocese, in the country or in the City. Therefore, I have not sanctioned the formation of any group in the Diocese. I should be grateful, if you could give me any help in understanding the Sandymount- Ballsbridge movement.’ (6 November 1941,1p). Includes correspondence between the Archbishop, Irish Fr Provincial and Fr Coyne on the matter. Also includes letter to Irish Fr Provincial from Fr John Hayes, C.C.(Chairman) relating to Muintir na Tíre’s ‘Rural Week’ (29 November 1942, 2pp) and printed advertising leaflets and leaflets concerning National Appeals on behalf of Muintir na Tíre (1940s, 4 items).

Documents relating to the wording of forms of charitable bequests to the Society. Includes examples of different bequest forms, memorandum for Irish Fr Provincial on charitable bequests and letters to Irish Fr Provincial on the matter.

A file relating to the exception taken by the ecclesiastical authorities of the Archdiocese of Dublin to two sentences in a review of an American book entitled Religious Instruction and Education in the September issue of Studies (1942). Includes letters from Archbishop John Charles McQuaid to Irish Fr Provincial John R. MacMahon SJ concerning the issue.

Correspondence, mainly between Irish Fr Provincial and Monsignor James Moynagh, Prefect Apostolic at Kiltegan, County Wicklow, concerning Mgr. Moynagh’s proposals to establish a Catholic hostel for West African students attending the National University in Dublin. Includes copies of letters: from Archbishop McQuaid and others, to Mgr. Moynagh; from Mgr. Moynagh to Fr S. Harrington (Provincial of The Society of African Missions) and to Irish Fr Provincial John McMahon SJ and Fr Provincial’s reply.

A file relating to Irish Jesuits working and living in China and Hong Kong during the rise in communism after the Second World War. Includes newspaper cuttings and descriptions by the Irish Jesuits of their experiences.

Letter from Fr John Hannon SJ, Rome written in Italian containing the signatures of all the Fathers in the Curia Generalizia. A note attached (written by Fr John R. MacMahon SJ) remarks that the letter is probably unique.

Letter from Irish Fr Provincial John MacMahon SJ, St Francis Xavier's, Dublin to Fr Thomas Ryan SJ, Chungking, China relating to news about Jesuit works, Irish Jesuits and their travels and work, recent deaths, schools and contemporaries of Fr Ryan.

Copy of a letter from Irish Fr Provincial John R MacMahon SJ, St Francis Xavier's, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin to Rev James E. Walsh MM, Bishop of [ ], Superior General, Catholic Foreign Mission, Society of America sympathising over the death of the Vicar General of Maryknoll.

Letter from Irish Fr Provincial John R MacMahon SJ to the Rector of St Francis Xavier's, Upper Gardiner Street in the appointment of Rev. Alexis Magni to the office of Vicar-General which entitles him to ‘the full powers of a General till such time as a successor to the late Fr Ledochowski has been appointed’ and ‘the powers of Visitor granted Fr Dugre on 9 April 1939 will remain in force till they are revoked’.

Copy letter from [Irish Fr Provincial John R MacMahon SJ], St. Francis Xavier's, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin to Fr Joseph Hurley SJ instructing him to cease working on the organisation of local branches of the Gaelic League. Remarks '...I think that it would be better if you did not even write on this subject...' Includes a reply from Fr Hurley, St. Stanislaus College, Tullamore, County Offaly.

A file of letters between Irish Frs Provincial Laurence Kieran and John R MacMahon and Clongowes Wood College SJ regarding communications with the Department of Defence. The mater being considered was one where the Deptartment of Defence sought to use Clongowes as a place for storage of equipment, and in the event of an emergency, that a part of it might be used as a hospital. The advice was that Clongowes should not invite the Department of defence in, but they might have no choice. Initial letters are between Fr Fergal McGrath SJ, Rector, Clongowes Wood College SJ and Irish Fr Provincial L Kieran SJ as well as with Commandant PJ Delaney of the Department of Defence. Fr McGrath also sought the advice of his House Consultors, Fr William Dargan SJ, Henry King SJ and Cyril Power SJ. Subsequent letters were exchanged between Fr William Dargan SJ - who had been deputed to negotiate with the Ministers of Defence, Mr Oscar Traynor and Mr Francis Aiken, along with Irish Fr Provincial John R MacMahon SJ.

In the event of an "emergency", the Provincial had wanted that Jesuit community members from Milltown Park and Rathfarnham Castle might be accommodated at Clongowes, along with the local community, and remaining staff and students. This was eventually accepted by the Department of Defence, as only a small portion of the buildings would be required to function as a hospital.

Discuss difficulties arising in relation to the proposed purchase of the field.

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial John R McMahon SJ from Mgr John M. Coghlan (Principal Chaplain (R.C.) concerning the chaplains’ release from the Army; the War Office’s request to retain the services of a number of them and the urgent need for Jesuits to work on the Hong Kong Mission. Includes copy letter to Fr Edward J. Warner SJ (Staff Chaplain to Mgr. Coghlan) from the Irish Fr Provincial in reply to the War Office’s request to retain the services of Fr Conal Murphy SJ. ‘I am sorry to say that I am worse off than ever for men, having received the other day a cable from Fr Joy, the Superior of our Hong Kong Mission, asking me to send out twelve men. As he and his fellow-missioners have been through a very rough time, as you can well imagine, I am anxious to send this help as soon as possible…I regret very much, then, that I cannot spare Fr Murphy, as I know by experience what it means to have vacancies yawning wide around one and none to fill them!’ (1 October 1945, 2pp).
Also includes letters to Irish Fr Provincial concerning Fr Richard Kennedy ‘ex P.O.W. from (the) Far East’ (7 January 1946 – 17 January 1947, 5 items).

Memorandum of Agreement between Irish Fr Provincial John R. MacMahon SJ, St Francis Xavier's, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin and Burns, Oates and Washbourne concerning Fr Thomas Ryan SJ's book 'Jesuits Under Fire'.

Note by Irish Fr Provincial John R MacMahon SJ concerning Fr Dan Donnelly SJ and his MS on the war years in Hong Kong.

Note from Irish Fr Provincial John R MacMahon SJ to Mr. Hollis, Burns, Oates and Washbourne Ltd., London ‘with reference to an Australian edition of Jesuits under Fire’.

Correspondence between Dundon & Treacy, solicitors for the Society in the Crescent College, and Tynan & Co., solicitors for the Jones family, in relation to the title of Jones’s field, and the interest of various members of the Jones family therein. Also includes a letter from E. Treacy of Dundon & Treacy solicitors, to Fr Redmond Roche SJ, rector of the Crescent.

Telegrams and letters to the Provincial from various sources following the death of Fr John Hayes SJ from typhus on 21 January 1945. Includes: telegram from the Rector of Crescent College Limerick to the Provincial (John McMahon SJ) informing him that the War Office had ‘wired Mrs. Hayes that Father John died of typhus Jan 21st’ (26 January 1945, 1p.);
– note of acknowledgement to the Provincial from Frank G. Hayes (Fr Hayes’ brother) (27 January 1945, 1p.);
– copy of letter sent to the Rector of Belvedere College (James Gubbins SJ) from Old Belvederian (1923-1931) and comrade of Fr Hayes, Captain W.A. Ward following the death of Fr Hayes (27 January 1945, 1p.);
– copy of letter sent by Joseph Gardner, S.C.F. (R.C.) (Senior Catholic Chaplain, Allied Land Forces, South East Asia) to Mgr. John Coghlan (Principal R.C. Chaplain, War Office, London) giving further details of Fr Hayes’ death (28 January 1945, 1p.);
– letter from Mgr. Coghlan to the Irish Fr Provincial John R MacMahon SJ (29 January 1945; 2pp);
– letters from Rev. A. Clancy (Senior Catholic Chaplain, H.Q. 36th Division, South East Asia) and from Rev. J. Gardner, S.C.F. (R.C.) to Irish Fr Provincial John R McMahon SJ (29 January 1945, 2 items, 1p. each);
– copy of letter sent to Mrs. Hayes by her son’s Commanding Officer, Major-General Francis Festing, following his death (23 January 1945, 2pp);
– letter from Agnes Hayes to Irish Fr Provincial (13 February 1945, 1p.);
– letter to Irish Fr Provincial John R McMahon SJ from George Hickson, the chaplain who was with Fr Hayes before he died (15 February 1945, 3pp);
– copy of letter from Rev. J. Gardner to Fr D. Donnelly SJ (St. Stanislaus High School, Bandra, Bombay) listing the articles of ecclesiastical equipment of the late Fr Hayes, which Fr Gardner is sending to Fr Donnelly (17 March 1945, 1p.);
– copy of an Appreciation of Fr Hayes written by Rev. Terence M. Hogan, C.F. (R.C.)(Fr Hayes’ Senior Chaplain for six months) (19 March 1945, 1p.) and
– label tags ‘O.H.M.S. Deceased Officer’s Kit’ for Fr Hayes’ property (n.d., 3 items).