Subfonds EMIG - Jesuit Chaplains to Irish emigrants in Britain

Identity area

Reference code

IE IJA CHP/EMIG

Title

Jesuit Chaplains to Irish emigrants in Britain

Date(s)

  • 1958-1984 (Creation)

Level of description

Subfonds

Extent and medium

1 box

Context area

Name of creator

(1830-)

Administrative history

The Irish Province of the Society of Jesus is the local branch of the Society of Jesus, one of the largest religious orders in the Catholic Church, was formed in 1860, having been a Vice-Province from 1830. When Fr Peter Kenney SJ, led the Jesuits back to Ireland in 1814 after the Suppression of the Society (1773-1814) his first action was to open a new school at Clongowes Wood College. In the 19th century and the early part of the 20th century the Order was associated with training Catholics to take on a leadership role in the emerging independent Ireland.

Archival history

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Deposited at the Irish Jesuit Archives from Irish Jesuit Provincialate.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

In the late 1940s, Fr Leonard Sheil SJ (1897-1968) travelled to Britain in an effort to serve Irish emigrants. Fr Sheil was a familiar sight on his motorbike visiting building sites, construction camps, mines, steel works, oil refineries and industrial hostels. Frs Matthew Meade (1912-1992) and Kevin Laheen (1919-2019) also provided missions.

General papers on Irish Jesuit missions;

  • Letters to the Provincial from Irish Jesuit missioners which give their opinions and impression of mission work in England (1960-1961);
  • Irish Episcopal Commission for Emigrants Easter conferences (1960-1977) which concerns the attendance of the Jesuit Provincial (1960-1972) and reports of proceedings, minutes and addresses (1962; 1977);
  • Working Party on the Irish Emigrant Missions in England and Wales (1973);
  • Mission reports and statistics (1966-1975) including Jesuit missions (1966-1970) and Irish Catholic missions in England and Wales (1968; 1974-1975);
  • Jesuit Chaplains in Westminster and Birmingham Archdioceses (1966-1969);
  • Irish Chaplaincy Scheme (1971-1979) including conference reports (1978-1979), details of chaplains and services (1971; 1976-1977) and Jesuit appointments (1974-1979);
  • Irish Centre Advisory Service, Liverpool (1976) and
  • Lillie Road Centre London (1978).

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

All items retained permanently.

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System of arrangement

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

The Irish Jesuit Archives are open only to bona fide researchers. Access by advance appointment. Further details: [email protected]

Conditions governing reproduction

No material may be reproduced without the written permission of the Archivist. Copyright restrictions apply. Photocopying is not available. Digital photography is at the discretion of the Archivist.

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Finding aids

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

See individual Jesuit files J16 (Fr Leonard Sheil SJ) and J529 (Fr Matthew Meade SJ).
ADMN/3/64 - File entitled ‘Missions in Britain 1950s’

Publication note

‘Irish in Britain’, Jesuit Year Book, pp5-12, 1960.

Publication note

Stevenson, Fr Robert SJ, ‘Emigrants’ Priest: Fr Leonard Sheil SJ’, Jesuit Year Book, 1969, pp25-33.

Publication note

Irish Province News. 1925-1992.

Notes area

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Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Rules and/or conventions used

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

2005; 2020

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Accession area