Item 27 - Letter from Br. Colmcille Cregan OFM Cap. to Fr. Bonaventure Murphy OFM Cap.

Edward Cregan was born in Shanagolden in County Limerick on 19 October 1894. He was received into the Capuchin Order at Rochestown Friary in County Cork in February 1915 and took Colmcille as his religious name. Four years later he made his solemn profession. He was stationed in Rochestown College for two years before moving to Holy Trinity Friary in Cork city where he was resident for three years. His next appointment (1921) was as sacristan in St. Mary of the Angels on Church Street in Dublin. In 1924 he was sent as a missionary friar to California. Following the death of Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap., Pastor of the Santa Inés Mission, in February 1925, Br. Colmcille was sent there to lend assistance. He worked on various improvement projects at the old Franciscan mission. Aside from helping in the church and sacristy, he also designed and planted the boxwood Celtic cross in the mission garden. He returned to Ireland in the early 1930s and spent most of the religious life (forty years) as sacristan with the Church Street Capuchin community in Dublin. He died on 10 December 1979 and was buried in Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin.

Baptismal name: Edward Cregan
Religious name: Br. Colmcille Cregan OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 19 Oct. 1894
Place of birth: Shanagolden, County Limerick
Name of father: Michael Cregan (Farmer)
Name of mother: Marry Cregan (née Sheehan)
Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 5 Feb. 1915
Date of first profession: 6 Feb. 1916
Date of final profession: 12 Apr. 1919
Missionary activities: Travelled to the Western United States mission custody in 1924. He returned to Ireland in 1931.
Date of death: 10 Dec. 1979
Place of death: Church Street Friary, Dublin
Place of burial: Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin