Faculties granted to Fr Matthew Gahan SJ, Isle of Man by Pope Pius VIII for indulgences.

A file relating to an enquiry from Miss Zena M. Carns, Stonyhurst Preparatory School, Hodder Place, Stonyhurst, Lancashire to Irish Fr Provincial Brendan Barry SJ concerning the re-establishment of the Catholic Church in the Isle of Man and Fr Matthew Gahan SJ. Includes a letter from Fr Francis Finegan SJ to Fr Barry answering the query and including copies of letters relating to Fr Gahan and the Isle of Man (24 July 1829 - 10 December 1838, 46pp).

A file containing deeds of sale of a plot of land in the Parish of Malew. The property was sold to Fr Matthew Gahan SJ.

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

• the purchase of additional land from Mr Bewley adjoining Milltown Park, on which to build a secondary school (See also 1940s correspondence with Archbishop McQuaid);
• the question of the payment of workers for work on parochial and ecclesiastical buildings on Holy Days of Obligation;
• the Statement issued on behalf of the Hierarchy with regard to ‘the raising of military forces and the waging of war’ (persuading ‘young men not to join the new I.R.A. and kindred groups, or if they have joined, to disassociate themselves from such groups’);
• the proposed acquisition of new buildings on Eglinton Road (now the Province Curia, No. 87 Eglinton Road) for the Society to ‘relieve a certain congestion we are experiencing at present in our Dublin Houses’;
• the appointment of Jesuits to various ecclesiastical offices;
• the Commission considering the question of Licensing Laws;
• Jesuit Missions to the Irish in Britain (see also ADMN/3/62);
• the Technical Schools – ‘It is not in any sense an exaggeration to say that the assistance of the Society has made possible the establishment of a firm system of Religious Instruction, for the first time, in the Vocational and Technical Schools’ (letter of Archbishop McQuaid to Fr Provincial, 8 June 1959, 1p.) (see also ADMN/3/61);
• the formation of a committee to select candidates for beatification among the Irish martyrs (see also ADMN/3/24; 43; 48 and 49);
• the publication of spiritual books in Irish by the Sodality of the Blessed Virgin Mary attached to Gardiner Street Church (see also ADMN/3/59 and 65);
• the appointment of Jesuit lecturers in University College Dublin;
• the proposal to establish a federation of the Sodalities of Our Lady in the Dublin Diocese.
  Also includes covering letter and copy of the minutes of the General Meeting of the Irish Actors’ Equity Association held on 27 April 1958.

Correspondence relating to Fr Joseph Lentaigne SJ, who was Irish Vice Provincial, 11 February 1858-7 December 1860 and the first Provincial of the Irish Province of the Society of Jesus, 8 December 1860 - [ ] 1863. No index.

Correspondence between the Irish Fr Provincial and Jesuits on various matters such as

• the censure of those in various stages of formation;
• the proposal to purchase books dealing with the missions in order to establish ‘the nucleus of a useful missionary library’ in Milltown Park (See also ADMN/3/11);
• Catholics and Trinity College Dublin (See also ADMN/3/43; 76);
• villas;
• the introduction of legislation granting a rebate of income tax to parents having children at school;
• the ‘desirability’ of a ‘recognised uniform’ way of expressing ‘Society of Jesus’ in initials in English and Irish;
• the introduction of dancing classes ‘under the guidance of a certain number of lady instructresses’ without the permission of Irish Fr Provincial at Belvedere College;
• Irish scholastics in Jersey and
• examinations in ‘air raid precautions and anti-gas measures’ for male members of religious orders at the Air Raid Precautions School, Griffith Barracks, Dublin.

Parties:
Rev. Dr.Thomas Penswick, Liverpool, Rev. John Briggs, Chester and Rev. Matthew Gahan SJ.

Property:
Parcel/plot of ground with the chapel and other buildings in the Parish of Bradden, Isle of Man

Terms & Conditions:
Fixed annual/chief rent

Copy of a letter from the Catholic inhabitants of the Isle of Man to Rev Dr Briggs, Roman Catholic Lord Bishop of the Diocese of the Northern District of England expressing their thanks for the care and interest the Bishop has shown for their well being. Requests more help from the Bishop. Remarks '…they cannot…refrain from expressing their sentiments upon…the future well being of the mission in this island where they regret to say such undesirable bigotry exists together with calumny hatred and abuse of the most virulent description is daily and yearly preached and propagated against their religion…they believe it the only means…of upholding successfully the Catholic Religion in this small island would be to appoint to the Mission and to its management here an able experienced clergyman…'

Contract of agreement between William Quiggin and Co. and Fr Matthew Gahan SJ to complete a dwelling house for Fr Gahan.

Biographical information on Fr Leonard Sheil SJ. Includes:
– potted biography by Fr Fergus O'Donoghue SJ (Irish Province Archivist, 1986-2019), (1984, 1p.);
– biography of Fr Sheil entitled 'Who Travels Alone' by Fr Robert L. Stevenson SJ (Dublin: C. Goodliffe Neale (Irel.) Ltd.) (1975, 56pp);
– photocopies from the 'Jesuit Year Book' of an illustrated article by Fr Robert L. Stevenson SJ entitled ‘Emigrants’ Priest: Fr. Leonard Sheil, S.J.’ (1969, 9pp) and an illustrated appreciation of Fr Sheil by Very Rev. Joseph Flynn, M.S.S (1969, 5pp).
Also includes appreciation of Fr Sheil by Very Rev. Joseph Flynn, M.S.S., printed in 'Irish Province News' (April 1968, 2pp).

Biographical details on Fr Matthew Gahan SJ.

Bills for work carried out on the late Fr Gahan's residence, Douglas.

A file of bills for supplies and work carried out on the New Chapel, Douglas, the chapel erected in Castletown and Fr Gahan's residence in Douglas.

Bill made out to Rev Charles Aylmer SJ from the Isle of Man Steam Packet company for goods freighted.

Bill for sherry and brandy made out to Fr Charles Aylmer SJ, Athol Street, Dublin.

List of specifications for altering part of the Club Room, Athol Street, Douglas to be used as a dwelling house by Fr Matthew Gahan SJ.

Parties:
Rev. Matthew J. Gahan SJ and Robert Kay.

Property:
House situated under the old Club Room, Athol Street, Douglas, Isle of Man in the occupation of Moses Kennedy.

Terms & Conditions:
Yearly rent of £6

File relating to the admission of John Moran to the Society of Jesus and the taking of vows.

A file of various accounts/financial statements.

Account of Fr Gahan's expenses on the Isle of Man.

Account book detailing the expenditure on the Catholic Chapel, Athol Street, Douglas, Isle of Man. Includes an abstract of the works on the church.

Account book belonging to Fr Matthew Gahan SJ detailing his expenses on the Isle of Man.

Account book belonging to Fr Matthew Gahan SJ detailing his expenses on the Isle of Man.