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Booklet commemorating 100 years of the Society of Jesus in Australia entitled 'A Century of Jesuit Achievement 1865-1965.'

A century of Jesuit achievement 1865-1965

Account book of the Irish Jesuit Province. Includes an alphabetical index.

Account book of the Irish Jesuit Province. Includes an alphabetical index.

Album depicting various views of Sydney (drawn).

The Irish Jesuit Mission to Australia was initiated due to the will of Fr John Joseph Therry (1790-1864), who named the Irish Jesuits as beneficiaries to his property in Australia, and by an invitation to the Irish Province by James Alipius Goold, Bishop of Melbourne (later Archbishop) (1812-1886) to set-up a mission in his diocese. The first two Irish Jesuits, Frs William Lentaigne (1805-1884) and William Kelly (1823-1909), arrived in Melbourne in September 1865. Previously, two Austrian Jesuits, Frs. Kranewitter (1817-1880) and Klinkowstroem (1819-1896) had arrived in 1848 after Jesuit expulsion from Austria. The Austrian Mission centred on South Australia and the Northern Territory. In 1901, the Austrian and Irish missions amalgamated. Australia was made a Vice-Province in 1931 and Fr Austin Kelly SJ (1891-1978) was named the first Provincial of the Australian Province in 1950.

The papers of the Australian Mission provide a comprehensive history of the Irish Jesuit Mission, concentrating on the years 1865-1931. The Irish Jesuits worked as missionaries, educators, writers, chaplains, theologians, scientists, pastors and directors of retreats, mainly in the urban communities of eastern Australia.

Subjects touched upon include: agreements with Archbishops in establishing Jesuit houses in a particular diocese; reflections on the journey to and from Australia; administration of schools, colleges, universities and Jesuit residences - (St Patrick’s, Melbourne; St Francis Xavier College, Kew, Melbourne; St Aloysius, Dunedin (NZ); St Aloysius College, Sydney ; St Ignatius College, Riverview, Sydney; St Louis, Claremont, Western Australia; Newman College, University of Melbourne); parishes - (Norwood and Sevenhills in South Australia; Invercargill (NZ); Melbourne; Sydney; Toowong and Indooroopilly in Queensland); financial documents; expansion of the Mission; and correspondence between Father Provincial in Ireland and Jesuits in Australia. By far the greatest number of letters sent to Father Provincial in Ireland was from Fr John Ryan SJ (1849-1922) (Superior of the Mission from 11 February 1901-14 June 1908; 9 April 1913-24 October 1917). Until the creation of the Australian Mission as a Vice-Province, the Irish Provincial was kept informed of every minor detail about the Mission and often decision making in Australia was delayed until approval from Dublin was given.

Although this collection provides a comprehensive history of the Australian Mission, there are some gaps. For example, the collection does not contain any deeds or other legal documents relating to property obtained by the Society of Jesus in Australia and it is presumed that these documents would have been kept by the Superior of the Mission and later the Vice-Provincial of the Vice-Province in Australia, where they remain today.

Superiors of the Irish Jesuit Mission to Australia (1865-1931)
Fr Joseph Lentaigne SJ 1865-1866
Fr Joseph Dalton SJ 1866-1872
Fr Thomas Cahill SJ 1872-1879
Fr Joseph Dalton SJ 1879-2 September 1883
Fr Aloysius Sturzo SJ 2 September 1883-5 April 1890
Fr Patrick Keating SJ 5 April 1890-1 February 1895
Fr Timothy Kenny SJ 1 February 1895-11 February 1901
Fr John Ryan SJ 11 February 1901-14 June 1908
Fr Thomas Brown SJ 14 June 1908-9 April 1913
Fr John Ryan SJ 9 April 1913-24 October 1917
Fr William Lockington SJ 24 October 1917-20 June 1923
Fr Jeremiah Sullivan SJ 20 June 1923-19 March 1931

Vice-Provincials of the Vice-Province of Australian (1931-1950)
Fr John Fahy SJ 19 March 1931-25 August 1939
Fr John Meagher SJ 25 August 1939-1 October 1947
Fr Austin Kelly SJ 1 October 1947-1 November 1950

Booklet entitled 'A Memorial of Our Dead in God's Acre an Elegy' by Michael Watson. Printed by J.T. Picken, Flinders Lane, Melbourne.

Consultors letter from Fr Matthew Egan SJ, St Patrick's College, East Melbourne to the Irish Fr Provincial John Fahy SJ concerning the creation of a Vice-Province and the shortage of men. Refers to the Novitiate and advises that a Juniorate should be established.

Copies of articles (taken from catalogue/souvenir) concerning the history of the Jesuit mission to Australia (1871-1964). Includes note from Fr Stephen Redmond SJ to Tom (20 July 1991).

A file containing copy extracts from letters to Irish Fr Provincial concerning the question of Australia becoming a Vice-Province.

Obituary from the 'Province News', the Australia Province of the Society of Jesus, No. 1, pp22 - 24 (June 1973) for Fr Michael Fitzgibbon SJ.

Catalogue entry and obituary for Fr Patrick J Harper SJ from the 'Province News', the Australia Province of the Society of Jesus, No. 1, pp10 - 11 (June 1973).

Material relating to which Fr Sydney C Lennon SJ includes correspondence with Irish Fr Provincials and curia, personal record and application to join the Society.

Obituary from the 'Province News', the Australia Province of the Society of Jesus, No. 1, pp12 - 13 (June 1973)

Group photograph at Canisius College, Werribee, Australia, featuring Fr Henry Johnston SJ (Rector) and John Fahy (Australian Jesuit Provincial). Printed by Harringtons.

Group photograph of the community at Canisius College, with names, by Melba Studios, Sydney.

Group photograph of the Xavier College community, Melbourne, on the occasion of the visit of Visitor, Fr John McMahon SJ. All individuals are named. Taken by Allan Studios, Collingwood, Victoria.

Letter from Fr Edward Corish SJ, Manresa, William and Queen Street, Norwood, Adelaide to Fr Superior (Fr Jeremiah Sullivan SJ) concerning the question of whether Australia should become a Vice-Province or not.

Letter from Fr Francis O'Brien SJ (Rector), St Aloysius College, Milson's Point, Sydney to Irish Fr Provincial John Fahy SJ concerning Mr William Hughes, a member of the St Aloysius College Community, the question of whether Australia should become a Vice-Province, a retreat he gave in Brisbane during which the Archbishop (Dr Duhig) referred to the Society's refusal of his invitation to open a college in Brisbane. Refers finally to the possibility of a college in New Zealand.

Letter from Fr Jerry M. MurphySJ, Newman College, University of Melbourne, Carlton, Melbourne to Irish Fr Provincial John Fahy SJ concerning the Australian Status and the question of Australia becoming a Vice-Province.

Letter from Irish Fr Provincial Laurence Kieran SJ St Francis Xavier's, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin to Rector [St Mary's, Emo] concerning books needed by the Australian Province for five scholastics from Hong Kong. Refers also to a Scholastic who wishes now to be a Brother. Asks if the individual must do the Noviceship again. Includes a page with pencil notations.

Letter from Joseph Alipius Goold, Archbishop of Melbourne, Archbishop's Residence, St Patrick's, Melbourne to Fr Thomas Cahill SJ (Superior of the Mission) concerning the procurement of a community of religious to take charge of schools for girls.

A file of letters from Fr Austin Kelly SJ (Vice-Provincial of the Vice-Province 1 October 1947-1 November 1950) to Irish Fr Provincial Thomas Byrne SJ. Includes a letter asking Fr Provincial to send out experienced Missioners., remarks 'We need subjects so much and we are not known in spite of the years we have been in the Commonwealth (6 February 1948, 1p). Includes a letter referring to a promise made to the Archbishop of Adelaide to staff the new University College in 1950. Remarks 'I see that Fr Fergal McGrath SJ is in USA on loan. Could Your Reverence possibly lend us Father McGrath for a few years to give the Adelaide University College a start - and a good one too?' (7 February 1949, 1p). Includes a letter thanking Fr Provincial for his congratulations following Australia's elevation to the status of Province. Remarks 'Please God all our fond hopes may be realised so that we shall have the vocations and support to keep going all our commitments.' (7 November 1950, 1p).

Letters from Fr Dominic V. Connell SJ to the Irish Fr Provincial. Includes a letter giving his opinion about the creation of a Vice-Province of the Society in Australia (26 June 1925, 1p).

A file of letters from Fr John Fahy SJ (Vice-Provincial of the Vice-Province 19 March 1931-25 August 1939) to Irish Fr Provincial Laurence Kieran SJ. Includes a letter referring to a visit to the Hong Kong Mission. Remarks 'Your men are doing glorious work there I had expected great things; the reality surpassed my expectations. That will become a first class mission.' (25 February 1937, 2pp). Includes a letter referring to plans for a retreat house and scholasticate at Sydney. Refers to the Archbishop of Perth and his desire for the Jesuit fathers to build a college in Perth. Remarks '...he wishes to get the Jesuits into his diocese. It does not seem to have occurred to him that the people of Perth would be expected to support any Jesuit Fathers who work there. So we exchange letters on this question of filthy lucre.' (1 April 1937, 2pp). Includes a letter expressing his thanks to Fr Kieran SJ for writing about the Australian Jesuits studying in Ireland. Remarks '...I am most grateful for your interest in them and your care of them. Other Provincials never write about our men: all we get is the bill and the exam results...' Refers to his own position as Provincial of the Vice-Province. Remarks 'Yes, our period of office is drawing to a close...I long for the day... Boys oh Boys, think of it: no more "relationes", no more triennial papers, no more elenchi, no more building, no more administratio temporalis, no more...peace perfect peace.' (21 April 1937, 2pp). Includes a letter referring to the proposed opening of a scholasticate in January 1938 (25 October 1938, 1p).

A file of letters from Fr John Meagher SJ (Vice-Provincial of the Vice-Province 25 August 1939-1 October 1947) to Irish Fr Provincial (John R. MacMahon SJ and Thomas Byrne). Includes a letter referring to an offer by the Apostolic Delegate to take a minor seminary in New Zealand in 1947. Asks if four or five young priests could be sent out. Remarks 'We have offers of work from practically every Bishop in Australia and must refuse for want of men. Our recruiting is bad and I really don't know what to do to remedy the trouble.' (10 November 1945, 1p). Includes a letter referring to a request by Fr Dan O'Connell SJ for Fr Richard Ingram SJ to help with his work in the Riverview Observatory. (18 March 1946, 1p). Includes a number of letters concerning Fr Cooney and his ill health. Includes a letter remarking 'He (Fr Cooney) wants to return to Hong Kong in September but I think you realise his return there would probably settle his chances of ever doing any more work...I think that Fr Cooney will never be really fit to return to Hong Kong (15 May 1946, 1p). Includes a letter referring to proposals to open colleges in Adelaide and Brisbane. Remarks due to the shortage of Jesuit Fathers that this is impossible. (27 June 1946, 1p).

List of Jesuit Fathers in Australia and the illnesses they are suffering from.

A file relating to Fr Desmond Durnin SJ. Includes a list of his next of kin.

Announcements of the deaths of Fr John Meagher SJ, and of Fr Martin Wallace SJ.

A file relating to Fr John Purcell SJ and his failing health.

Announcements of the death of Fr Michael Fitzgibbon SJ.

Announcements of the death of Fr Henry Johnston SJ.

Announcements of the death of Fr Ned Riordan SJ.

Obituary of Fr Gerald Lawlor SJ, taken from 'The Australian Dictionary of Jesuit Biography 1848 - 1998' by David Strong SJ, 1999, p191.

Fr Henry Johnston SJ and F. J. Sheed at Canisius College, Werribee, Australia.

Portrait photograph of unknown Jesuit, taken by Roarty, The City Photographic Studio, Sydney.

Photograph of young priests with Frs. Robert Peterson, Albert Power and George O'Neill. A 'New Building' is depicted in the background.

Photograph showing the church of the Immaculate Conception, Hawthorn, Australia with inscription 'Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year'. By R. Redfern, photographic artist, Excelsior Studio, Burwood Road, Hawthorn.

A file of photographs depicting the exterior, interior and grounds of Corpus Christi College, Werribee, Australia.

Photographs relating to Australia, taken from Clongowes Wood College. Inlcudes:

• the Jesuit community at Riverview, Sydney, Australia (1890-1891). Includes 2nd from left, seated, Fr John Ryan SJ, Superior of the Mission [1894]-[1917];

• ordination of Rev. Leonard Dew (+1931), Missionary of the Sacred Heart, April 1929, at the Jesuit run-diocesan seminary, Corpus Xti College, Melbourne, Australia. Includes seated, 1st from left, Fr Robert Peterson SJ; 3rd from left, Fr Henry Johnston SJ; Third from right, seated, next to Archbishop Daniel Mannix, Fr Albert Power SJ By C. J. Fraser Photo, Melbourne.

• unknown photograph, maybe in Australia c[1900-1930], but looks Italian.

A file of photographs, of landscapes and a house, of villa (holiday) at Mornington, Victoria.

Copy of the 'Province News' (Australia) containing the obituaries of Australian Jesuits (many Irish born or entered Irish Province).

The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography, 1848-1998.
Halstead Press, Rushcutters Bay, N.S.W., 1999

Halstead Press, Ultimo, N.S.W., 2017

The Canisian: produced by students in Philosophy, Australian Jesuit Vice-Province.

To the greater glory: a history of the Irish Jesuits.

The Society of Jesus in Australia. Various lists to 1 January 2009.

Annual Letters (Litterae Annuae) and House Histories (Historia Domus) for Ireland and Australia (2 versions).

Ursula M. L. Bygott
Melbourne University Press, Carlton, Vic., 1980