File 1 - Archival Book of the Capuchin Friary, Kilkenny

The volume is titled in print on the fly leaf: ‘Archives of the Franciscan Capuchin Monastery, Kilkenny’. The volume was manufactured by Dollard Printing House, Dublin, and appears to have been used as an official archival record book for the Capuchin Friary in Kilkenny. It includes manuscript and typescript copies of documents pertaining to the administration of the Irish Province. Many of the documents are copy circular letters from Capuchin Ministers General or from Irish Capuchin Provincial Ministers. Other documents include letters to the guardian of Kilkenny Friary, letters of obedience (with particular reference to the Kilkenny community), notices of jubilees and deaths, and other official documents from the Provincial Minister and Definitory (Council). The volume includes:
pp 14-15. Circular letter from Fr. Bernard Christen of Andermatt OSFC, Minister General, Peckham, 29 Oct. 1890. Refers to the recent pastoral visitation of the Irish Capuchin Province: ‘It rejoices us much to say that, on the whole, we have found things in a good and satisfactory condition’. With a transcribed copy in volume.
pp 15-23. Copy circular letter from Fr. Bernard Christen of Andermatt OSFC, Minister General of the Capuchin Order, Dublin. 21 Oct. 1890. Outlines the regulations set down following the general visitation to the Irish Province. The regulations mainly refer to matters of discipline, studies and formation, the exercise of prayer and devotion and the celebration of religious feast days. Article 20 affirms that ‘each of our places shall have its own conventual archives, in which shall be kept under lock and key all official and circular letters issued by the general or provincial, and the papers concerning the House’. With a transcribed copy in volume.
p. 23. Circular letter from Fr. Seraphin Van Damme OSFC, Provincial Minister, regarding the observance of a solemn triduum in the Capuchin Friary, Kilkenny, to mark the canonisation of Saint Lawrence of Brindisi. 29 Nov. 1882. In Latin.
p. 25. Circular letter from Fr. Seraphin Van Damme OSFC, Provincial Minister, regarding dispensations from fasts: ‘... We grant to all the Religious of Our Province during the approaching Lent of All Saints, the dispensation to use flesh meat once in the day at the principal meal …’. With similar dispensations in respect of ‘eggs, milk, butter, cheese and things prepared from them’. Convent of the Most Holy Trinity, Cork, 14 Oct. 1885.
p.27. Authentication for the relic of the True Cross ‘and for the relics in large case’ including those of John the Baptist. With blind seal stamp of Fr. Antonius Ligi-Bussi Urbinas, Titular Archbishop of Iconium, and Domestic Prelate to the Pope, signed by him and dated 19 April [1859]. In Latin. Endorsed in pencil on verso: Rev. M.A. Muldoon OSFC.
p. 27. Ordination certificate for Fr. Alphonous Lombard of Ballyhooly OSFC (d. 29 Apr. 1900). Signed, with wax seal of the Most Rev. Marc Michael Hudrisier OFM Cap. Bishop of Port Victoria, Seychelles, Cork, 1 Jan. 1897. Also signed by Fr. Benvenutus Guy OSFC, secretary. In Latin.
p. 129. Circular letter from Fr. Paul Neary OSFC, Provincial Minister, and definitors, conveying the ‘decisions of our superiors general with regard to the administration of this Province for the coming three years …’. Fr. Paul adds that these decisions have ‘come upon us with surprise, regret and disappointment …’. Kilkenny, 21 May 1890. With a copy letter from Fr. Bernard Christen of Andermatt OSFC, Minister General, referring to the ‘peculiar circumstances of our dear Province of Ireland with regard to the actual number of priests composing it, and its recent erection into a self-governing Province …’. Rome, 26 Mar. 1890. With a copy decree from Fr. Bernard. In Latin.
p. 130. Circular letter from Fr. Paul Neary OSFC, Provincial Minister, to the guardian and religious of the Capuchin Friary, Kilkenny, referring to the impending visit of the General Minister of the Capuchin Order to mark the occasion of the centenary celebrations of Fr. Theobald Mathew OSFC. Holy Trinity Friary, Cork, 26 Aug. 1890.
p. 130. Circular letter from Fr. Paul Neary OSFC, Provincial Minister, convening the Provincial Chapter. Cork, 17 Dec. 1892.
p. 133. Encyclical letter of Fr. Matthew O’Connor OSFC (1859-1930), Provincial Minister, following the Provincial Chapter held in Cork, 31 Jan. 1893.
p. 133. Circular letter of Fr. Matthew O’Connor OSFC, Provincial Minister, convoking the Provincial Chapter. 21 Oct. 1895.
p. 133. Circular letter of Fr. Bernard Jennings OSFC, Provincial Minister, regarding the impending General Chapter of the Order. He also refers to the General Minister’s instructions with regard to the exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament. Cork, 24 Apr. 1896.
p. 135. Circular letter of Fr. Bernard Jennings OSFC, Provincial Minister, referring to the upcoming Provincial Chapter. He refers to the great ‘influx into our Seraphic College’, the increase of students, and to the fact that ‘the number of our Priests shall be increased by five towards the end of the year’. Reference is also made to a ‘kind benefactress’ who by a donation of £1,000 helped to put Rochestown Monastery on its legs …’. Fr. Bernard also refers to the good work which has been done in other houses. He affirmed that a ‘magnificent monastery’ now stands upon the ‘almost plague-stricken ruin at Kilkenny and the £4,000 which at least have been expended thereon is a gift of another kind benefactor. Not only has the back-bone of the hitherto gigantic debt on the Dublin House [Church Street] been broken but by an effort as laudable as it was ingenious the Fathers have contrived a plan by which the whole debt can be wiped out during the next administration’. On the expanding reach of Capuchin preaching and missions, Fr. Bernard wrote: ‘so great was the success achieved that we were even invited there again [to Belfast] in the hotbed of orangeism’. Cork, 20 June 1898.
p. 135. Circular letter of Fr. Bernard Jennings OSFC, Provincial Minister, yielding the government of the Province to the second definitor, Fr. Paul Neary OSFC, for the duration of his absence on Order business in Rome. Cork, 10 June 1898.
p. 137. Circular letter of Fr. Matthew O’Connor OSFC, Provincial Minster, on the silver jubilee of Br. Joseph O’Mahony OSFC. Cork, 1 Dec. 1898.
p. 137. Circular letter of Fr. Matthew O’Connor OSFC, Provincial Minster, convoking the Provincial Chapter. Reference is made to the improvements in the previous three years in terms of personnel, ministry, education, retreats, missions and the economic condition of the Irish Province. Cork, 18 July 1901.
p. 137. Circular letter of Fr. Matthew O’Connor, Provincial Minster, referring to the silver jubilee celebrations of Fr. Nicholas Murphy OSFC and Fr. Bernard Jennings OSFC. Cork, 17 Nov. 1899.
p. 137. Circular letter of Fr. Peter Bowe OSFC, Provincial Minister, on the silver jubilee of Br. Elzear Kelly OSFC. Dublin, 20 Dec. 1908.
p. 137. Circular letter of Fr. Peter Bowe OSFC, Provincial Minister, reflecting on the commemorations in the Province of the seventh centenary of the foundation of the Franciscan Order. 5 Nov. 1909.
p. 137. Circular letter of Fr. Peter Bowe OSFC, Provincial Minister, yielding the government of the Province to the first definitor, Fr. Edwin Fitzgibbon OSFC, during his absence ‘on some importance business in the Province of America’. Dublin, 20 Apr. 1910.
p. 139. Circular letter of Fr. Peter Bowe OSFC, Provincial Minister, referring to the death of Pope Leo XIII, to the missionary labours of the Order’s members in Ireland and to progress of the Total Abstinence Association. St. Mary of the Angels, Dublin, 7 Mar. 1904.
p. 139. Circular letter of Fr. Peter Bowe OSFC, Provincial Minister, convoking the Provincial Chapter of 1904. Reference is made to progress over the previous three years in terms of personnel, ministry, education, retreats, missions and the economic condition of the Irish Province. Cork, 18 July 1904.
p. 139. Letter from Fr. Peter Bowe OSFC, Provincial Minister, to Fr. Camillus Killian OSFC, guardian, Capuchin Friary, Kilkenny, regarding the ‘Ceremonial and book of the customs of the Irish Province’. Dublin, 25 Apr. 1908.
p. 139. Circular letter of Fr. Peter Bowe OSFC, Provincial Minister, appointing Fr. Edwin Fitzgibbon OSFC Vice-Provincial Minister during his absence in Rome at the General Chapter of the Order. Dublin, 28 Apr. 1908.
p. 139. Circular letter of Fr. Peter Bowe OSFC, Provincial Minister, on the golden jubilee of Fr. Salvator Corrigan OSFC. 10 Apr. 1909.
p. 139. Circular letter of Fr. Peter Bowe OSFC, Provincial Minister, convoking the Provincial Chapter of 1910. Reference is made to various aspects of the ministry in the Irish Province (and in Western America) in the previous three years. 7 July 1910.
p. 141. Letter from Fr. Peter Bowe OSFC, Provincial Minister, to Fr. Jarlath Hynes OSFC (d. 25 Mar. 1918), guardian, Kilkenny Friary, asking for a statement ‘that what I laid down at the visitation has been put in practice’. Rochestown, County Cork, 27 Aug. 1905.
p. 141. Circular of Fr. Peter Bowe OSFC, Provincial Minister, referring to the progress of the national temperance crusade. Church Street, Dublin, 28 Feb. 1906.
p. 143. Letter from Fr. Paul Neary OSFC, Provincial Minister, to Fr. Jarlath Hynes OSFC, guardian, Kilkenny Friary, referring to celebrations of the thirtieth anniversary of the establishment of the novitiate for the Irish Province. Reference is also made to the ‘new work of the “Temperance Crusade” …’. Church Street, Dublin, 23 Oct. 1905.
p. 143. Circular letter from Fr. Paul Neary OSFC, first definitor, on the silver jubilees of Fr. Peter Bowe OSFC, Provincial Minister, and Br. Felix Harte OSFC. Rochestown, County Cork, 22 Mar. 1902.
p. 143. Letter from Fr. Paul Neary OSFC, Provincial Minister, to Fr. Jarlath Hynes OSFC, guardian, Kilkenny Friary, enclosing a copy of a report on the progress of the temperance crusade in 1906 which was sent to the Minister General and published in the 'Analecta'. Church Street, Dublin, 21 May 1907.
p. 151. Circular letter from Fr. Paul Neary OSFC, Provincial Minster, forwarding an ‘authentic copy of … the decision lately arrived at by Superior General in Rome regarding this Province’. Kilkenny, 15 Feb. 1887. In English and Latin.
p. 153. Circular letter from Fr. Thomas Dowling OSFC, Provincial Minister, reporting on the progress of missions in the Diocese of Baker City, Oregon and in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Fr. Thomas wrote: ‘Father Luke [Sheehan] took charge of those foundations [in Baker City] and was appointed Superior of the Missions at the Capitular Definitorial Meeting. Father Casimir [Butler] was selected to join Father Luke and together with him has laboured zealously there for more than twelve months’. Church Street, 21 Dec. 1911.
p. 153. Circular letter from Fr. Thomas Dowling OSFC, Provincial Minister, on the silver jubilee of Fr. Jarlath Hynes OSFC. Church Street, Dublin, 1 Dec. 1911.
p. 153. Circular letter from Fr. Thomas Dowling OSFC, Provincial Minister, on the silver jubilee of Fr. Aloysius Travers OSFC. Church Street, 27 Mar. 1912.
p. 155. Letter from Fr. Thomas Dowling OSFC, Provincial Minister, to Fr. Berchmans Cantillon OSFC, guardian, Kilkenny, re the declining health of Br. Stanislaus Walsh OSFC. Rochestown, County Cork, 22 Aug. 1910.
p. 155. Letter from Fr. Benedict Phelan OSFC to Fr. Berchmans Cantillon OSFC, guardian, enclosing a circular letter from Fr. Thomas Dowling OSFC, Provincial Minister, regarding the death on 31 August of Br. Stanislaus Walsh OSFC. Church Street, Dublin, 31 Aug. 1910.
p. 155. Circular letter from Fr. Thomas Dowling OSFC, Provincial Minister, regarding the regulations governing the conduct of temperance missions and retreats. Church Street, Dublin [c.1910].
p. 155. Letter from Fr. Benedict Phelan OSFC to Fr. Berchmans Cantillon OSFC, guardian, Kilkenny, requesting that the house book and ledger of the Kilkenny community be sent to Dublin for Fr. Anselm’s signature. Church Street, Dublin, 21 Aug. [c.1910].
p. 169. Copy circular letter from Fr. Bernard Christen of Andermatt OSFC, Minister General, regarding the forms of regular observance within the Order. Certified copy by Fr. Peter Bowe OSFC, Provincial Minister. 25 Mar. 1903.
pp 311-337. Letters of obedience, c.1874-1910. Fr. Angelus Healy OFM Cap. compiled a list of these obediences under the headings of date, ‘from’ [usually coming from the Provincial Minister], to [the name of the friar] and ‘import’ [place of transfer]’. The list is extant at CA KK/1/2/5.
p. 367. Examination results for Fathers Brendan, Edward, Berchmans, Pius, Bonaventure, Martin and Malachy. The candidates are noted to have acquired a placet or vote of assent (probably from the governing body of a university). [n.d.].