Biographies
Br. Michael Canice Collins
Michael Collins was born at Glin Road, Moyvane, County Kerry on 13 May 1914, the third eldest of a family of eight. When he was eight years old, and his youngest brother only one, his mother died, leaving his father to rear the children on his own. Two of the children, Michael and Tim, entered the Presentation Brothers; James, a Redemptorist, became a bishop in Brazil; Pat, a Salesian Father, was Principal of Warrenstown Agricultural College; Maudie became Sister Mary Theophane, a member of the Sisters of the Incarnate Word in the USA.
Michael entered the Presentation Brothers at Mount St. Joseph, Cork on 20 February 1932 and made his final profession of Vows in 1937. He graduated from the National University of Ireland (Cork) with an honours B.Sc.. in 1940, and obtained the Higher Diploma in Education in 1941. He taught at the Presentation Colleges in Cork and Cobh and spent the last years of World War II teaching in Reading, England.
Following a request from Dr. Finbar Ryan OP, Archbishop of Port of Spain, the Presentation Brothers opened a new College in St. George's, Grenada, and took over the existing St. Mary's College in Castries, St. Lucia. Brother Canice was one of the group of three who went to St. Lucia, his companions being Br. Macartan Sheehy and Br. Lawrence Reynolds.
Br. Canice combined the duties of Superior of the community and Principal of the College. On the night of 19 June 1948 fire raged in the town of Castries, threatening to destroy it completely. Br. Canice persuaded the firefighting authorities to destroy all the old wooden buildings along one street which lay in the path of the flames, thus creating a firebreak. His initiative and leadership saved much of the town from destruction. An editorial in the local newspaper commended the Brothers for "striving to promote a spirit of initiative and cooperative action". Br. Canice's efforts both in education and in controlling the "Great Fire of 1948" were acknowledged in the King's New Year's Honours List of 1949 when he was awarded the MBE.
The number of students at St. Mary's had increased steadily and there was a growing demand for more places. The building however was old, small and in bad repair. Br. Canice negotiated the purchase of a large, vacant military barracks on a splendid site on the Vigie peninsula about two miles from the town. It was completely refurbished and the College was transferred there in 1952. It was now possible to accommodate over 300 pupils (the original student population was 80) as well as providing hostel and sports facilities. Br. Canice was an able sportsman and it was largely due to his enthusiasm and energy that the Inter-Island Tournament which schools in Grenada, St. Vincent, Dominica and St. Lucia hosted in turn was revived, having fallen into abeyance during World war II.
The Brothers also purchased a bungalow at Vigie which had been the Commanding Officers' quarters and this became the Brothers residence when their house in Castries was destroyed in a second fire in the town in 1951.
Br. Canice was appointed by the Governor of St. Lucia to the Education Board for the island and in 1955 he represented both the Archbishop of Port of Spain and the Government of St. Lucia at a conference in Kingston, Jamaica, on the setting up of the University of the West Indies. He was also vicar to the Provincial Superior, Br. Dunstan Curtin, at this time.
Br. Canice was a great community man, gentle, humble and self-effacing. He had a wonderful ability to inspire those who worked with him to share his enthusiasm and zeal. Calm and patient, he had a great sense of humour. He was a keen photographer and left a collection of transparencies recording scenes and events in St. Lucia. With his friend Fr.Jesse FMI he established a museum at St. Mary's to display numerous Arawak and Carib artifacts collected at various sites on the islands.
Br. Canice left St. Lucia for San Fernando, Trinidad, in 1956 and was appointed Superior there at the end of the year. For years he had suffered headaches from time to time, a problem he sometimes attributed to an old scalp injury he incurred in his youth when he dived into water that was shallower than he anticipated. Early in 1957 the pains became very severe and frequent. In March he left for treatment at a hospital in Beaumont, Texas, which was administered by the Sisters of the Incarnate Word, the congregation of which his sister was a member. An aneurism in the brain was diagnosed and though the surgery performed appeared at first to be successful Br. Canice died on 20 March 1957. He is buried in the cemetery attached to the convent of the Sisters of the Incarnate Word in Beaumont.
News of Br. Canice's death came as a great shock to the people of St. Lucia and many tributes were paid to him. The words of Br. Dunstan Curtin, who had been the first Provincial Superior of the Congregation in the West Indies and was a close friend of Br. Canice best summed up the loss felt by those who knew him:
"Brother Canice died young. Had he lived for a century he would have died young - far too young indeed , for the many that loved him."
Reference:
The late Rev. Br. Michael Canice Collins - an appreciation by Br. Dunstan Curtin (1957)
A Concise History of the Presentation Brothers in St. Lucia 1947-1997 Brother De Lellis Sullivan,Golden Jubilee Magazine.
Gentlemen of the Presentation - Feheney, (Veritas 1999)
Br. William Patrick Shine
William Shine was born in Kilbaha, Newtownsandes (now known as Moyvane), Co. Kerry on 20 July 1843. Having spent a short time with the Oblates of Mary Immaculate at Inchicore, Dublin, he entered the Presentation Brothers' novitiate in the South Monastery, Cork, in 1868. A neighbour of William's, Edmund Shanahan, Br. Austin, was a member of the community, having entered eight years previously.--- The superior, Br. Paul Townsend, was at first reluctant to receive William as the community were in poor financial circumstances and he was worried about taking in another member for whom they might not be able to provide. However, Br. Ligouri Gaynor was visiting the South Monastery at that time and said he would accept the young man in Killarney.This caused Br. Paul to have second thoughts and William stayed in Cork.
William chose Patrick as his name in religion . He was an exemplary novice and made his profession on 27 August 1870. He taught in Greenmount where the work was very demanding as the Brothers were operating a national school, an orphanage and an industrial school all at the same time.---When the industrial school moved to new independent premises in 1874 Br.Patrick was appointed Superintendent. As well as being a resourceful teacher he proved to be a great organiser with a flair for financial administration. In 1877 he was elected superior of the South Monastery in succession to Br. Austin Shanahan who had completed his second term in the post.
Br. Patrick had suffered from typhoid fever before becoming a Brother and suffered severe headaches as a result, but he was seldom known to refer to these.
While Br. Patrick was superior of the South Monastery the number of aspirants increased dramatically. The building of a new chapel was a priority and this was completed in 1879. The extra numbers also made it possible for the community to make new foundations, at Birr, Co.Offaly in 1878 and Presentation College in Cork city, the Brothers' first second level school, in 1879. Other projects included a new wing for the South Monastery school and also for Greenmount national school; a new chapel and a dairy at the industrial school, and the purchase of farms to supply milk and vegetables for the boys in Greenmount.---------------------
In March 1885, with the encouragement of Bishop T. O'Callaghan O. P., co-adjutor bishop of Cork, the Brothers voted to petition Rome requesting changes in the Constitutions which would enable them to elect a Superior General and become a Pontifical rather than a Diocesan congregation. Br. Patrick and Br. Austin went to Rome and were successful in getting the changes formally approved by Pope Leo XIII on 2 June 1889. A month after the two envoys returned a General Chapter was held at the South Monastery and Br. Patrick was elected Superior General. --As a leader, he believed in delegation, inspiring his collaborators with enthusiasm but giving them room to learn and being slow to interfere. During Br.Patrick's term as Superior General several new foundations were made: Cobh (1889), Kinsale(1891), Orpington (1893), Mount St. Joseph (1894), Letterkenny (1894), Boyle (1897), Enniskillen (1897), Newcastle-on-Tyne (1901), Dungannon (1902) and Glasthule (1903).
During the summer of 1904 Br. Patrick began to suffer from digestive problems which prevented him from taking proper nourishment. He was able to rise daily and attend to correspondence and other administrative matters, his intellect remaining unimpaired, but he became virtually housebound. On the morning of the day before he died he rose as usual, but in the afternoon a change for the worst was evident and he received the Last Sacraments. Early on the morning of Holy Thursday, 20 April 1905, he died, some eight or nine months after the onset of his illness. His remains lay in the chapel at Mount St. Joseph on Good Friday, and on Holy Saturday the Bishop, Most Rev. Dr. O'Callaghan O.P, said the final prayers at the burial of his old friend in the community cemetery.
Br. Edmund Austin Shanahan
Edmund Shanahan was born at Kilbaha, Newtownsandes (now known as Moyvane), Co. Kerry in 1841. He entered the novitiate at the South Monastery, Cork, in 1860, taking Austin as his name in religion.
With Br. Xavier O'Connor he compiled a supplement to Butler's Catechism which was embodied in the episcopal text. Circulation exceeded two million copies before his death.
Br. Austin was principal teacher in the South Monastery for eleven years during which time he trained numerous monitors on his staff. In 1871 he was elected Superior of the South Monastery to succeed Br. Paul Townsend. At that time half of the house was reserved for the parochial clergy but resulting from Br. Austin's negotations the priests moved to a residence in George's Quay and the whole house became available for the Brothers' use.
From 1871 to 1874 he was very much involved in the building of St. Joseph's Industrial School in Greenmount. In 1880 when St. Vincent's, Dartford, was in danger of being given in charge to another Institute of Brothers because of Br. Augustine Ryan's ill health and the decision of Br. Joseph Keogh to return to secular life, Br. Austin took charge. He returned to Cork in 1882, leaving St. Vincent's in a very satisfactory condition and was again elected Superior at the South Monastery.
In 1885 Br. Austin presided over a meeting of all professed Brothers in the South Monastery at which it was unanimously decided to petition Rome to allow changes in the Constitution which would permit the centralisation of authority under a Superior General. Four years later, following a visit by Br. Austin and Br, Patrick Shine to Rome to "push" the petition, approval was secured. At the subsequent General Chapter (1889) Br. Austin was elected one of the four Assistants to Br. Patrick, Superior General. He continued to be a member of the General Council until his death.
In the late 1880s and early 1890s Br. Austin travelled extensively in the USA as well as in Australia and New Zealand collecting money to build the new novitiate at Mount St. Joseph. On his return to Cork the building debts were still very great and Br. Austin was asked to solicit alms locally, even begging coppers in the Coal Quay Market in Cork on Saturday mornings.
Br. Austin died peacefully on October 24th 1902. He is buried in the vault at the old South Monastery.
Br. William Baptist Quille
William Quille was born in Duagh, Co. Kerry on February 7th 1888. For the first three years of his life he never spoke, a cause of great anxiety to his parents. His grand-uncle, Canon Walshe, parish priest of Rathmore, blessed him and thereafter William spoke just as any child of his age would.
Having completed his primary education at the local national school he went to St. Michael's College, Listowel and two years later to Mount Melleray Seminary. He then began studying to be a priest of the diocese of Southwark. However he did not feel this was his vocation, and he left the seminary following a retreat in 1909.
Two of William's maternal uncles, Br. James Xavier O'Connor (1845 -1874) and Br. Richard de Sales O'Connor (1848 -1904) were Presentation Brothers.
William entered the novitiate at Mount St. Joseph in February 1910 and received the habit the following August, taking Baptist as his religious name. One of his fellow novices remembered him as unostentatious, but meticulous in the performance of his daily duties. At recreation he was cheerful and entertaining and he played football and other games enthusiastically.
He had special devotion to Our Lady and composed his own private prayers to her. His father died in 1912 and he was a great support to his mother at this time because of his resignation and prayerful calmness.
In school his manner of teaching was so gentle and affable that some wondered about his ability to impose discipline on the class. On one occasion he had qualms of conscience about his severity in punishing a particularly disruptive boy, and on his Novice Master's advice he apologised to him in class the next day. He had no further problems with that boy.
After making his profession of vows on 15 August 1912, Br. Baptist was transferred to Cobh where through his hard work and amiability he endeared himself to his students and to the community.
Early in 1913 he was ill, had a racking cough and was diagnosed as suffering from tuberculosis. In those days there was no cure for this disease, and soon Br. Baptist was a patient at St. Patrick's Hospital, Cork.
Though fully aware of the nature of his illness he remained cheerful and often invited visitors to pray with him. The hospital chaplain remarked that Br. Baptist regarded dying as he would a duty, the manifestation of God's will. In hospital he performed the daily religious exercises - meditation, office and other prayers - at the same times as he would have done with his community.
He had a particular devotion to St. Therese of Lisieux, the Little Flower, whom he much resembled in the way he lived his religious life and now also in his illness. The Sunday before he died he told his uncle who was visiting him that St. Therese was coming for him the following Tuesday. It happened as he said. An hour before his death he consoled his uncle and brother who were in tears and answering the prayers for the dying recited by the Sister in charge he passed away peacefully.
Aged 25, Br. Baptist died on Tuesday 22 April 1913. He is buried at Mount St. Joseph.
In July 1914, fifteen months after his death, a large number of priests and students who had been his classmates during his time in the seminary assembled in the parish church, Duagh, to celebrate Mass for the repose of his soul. It was a testimony of their affection and of their appreciation of his piety.
Br. John Feargal Kelly
John T. Kelly was born at Scrahan, Duagh, Co. Kerry, on 28th February 1917. He received his early education in Duagh National School and his secondary education at Colaiste Muire. He was received as a Presentation Brother at Mount St. Joseph on 12 August 1936, taking Feargal as his name in religion, and made his profession of vows two years later. He graduated from U.C.C. with a B.A. in 1941 and after a short time in Claiste Muire was appointed to Glasthule, where he remained until 1943.
He was then transferred to Orpington, where he spent two years before returning to Glasthule. In 1947 he obtained his H.Dip.in Ed. in U.C.D.
Br. Feargal was Superior and Principal in Glasthule from 1952 to 1955. He was stationed in Mardyke House, teaching in Presentation College, Cork, from 1955-1960 when he was appointed principal of the secondary school in Cobh. He returned to Presentation College in 1965 and was transferred to Miltown as principal of the secondary school in 1969.
He soon grew to love Miltown and did not spare himself in in his efforts to develop and improve educational facilities there. He was involved for a long time with the Department of Education in getting recognition for a woodwork teacher and in seeking approval for a much needed extension to the secondary school. He loved the school and the pupils and spent himself for them and this was recognised by everybody.
Br. Feargal was convinced of the importance of sport. As well as its recreational and entertainment values he saw its importance in character development and its social importance. In Glasthule, Cobh and Presentation College Cork he spent many hours training the schools' rugby and athletic teams. Gaelic football was his favourite game. He had been a fine exponent of the game in his playing days and in Miltown he devoted many hours to coaching his pupils and the under-age teams of the Miltown-Castlemaine Club.
Br. Feargal was a young 59 when in April 1976 a tumour developed in his knee. It was operated on but proved to be malignant. A couple of days after the operation he was sitting up in bed correcting test papers, a measure of his dedication to his school work. After a course of radium treatment in St. Luke's Hospital in Dublin he returned to Miltown on 26th April and, typical of his fighting spirit, he was back in the classroom the following day. However he had to return to St. Luke's before the end of May and remained there until June 27th.
Br. Feargal spent several more periods in St. Luke's, returning to Miltown for short intervals, but by the start of the new school year his health had deteriorated greatly and Br. de Sales Burke came to Miltown to take over his school duties. Negotiations with the office of the Department of Education in Dublin regarding the proposed extension to the secondary school continued and Br. Feargal took a great interest in them.
As Bro. Feargal was by now unable to attend Mass in the parish church Mons. Michael Cronin, retired from Sydney Archdiocese and a past pupil of the Brothers' school, came to say Mass in the monastery chapel weekly.
Bro. Feargal returned to St. Luke's on the 6th October. During his sojourn there Brothers from the Glasthule community visited him regularly and looked after his requirements and while he was able, he spent the weekends with the community. The Superior and community in Bray also visited him often.
As October came to an end there was no more the doctors in St. Luke's could do and on the 21st of the month he began his final journey home to Miltown. He was so weak that he was unable to complete the journey in one day. Bro.Walter brought him to Birr by car where he stayed overnight and Bro. Bertrand, accompanied by Bro. Feargal's brother Jim, brought him the rest of the way on the 22nd. He was very weak, but never complained.
By November Bro. Feargal was failing rapidly and on the 6th Dr. Sheehan had him transferred by ambulance to the Bon Secours Home in Tralee. Soon after admission he received the anointing of the sick. On Tuesday the 9th he was very weak but able to speak a little, but by late afternoon he was no longer able to talk though still conscious. He went into a coma at about 7.30 p.m. and at 9.30 p.m. he died peacefully.
Br. Feargal was a wonderful companion and friend in community. He was very obliging and helpful, witty but never hurtful. He was deeply religious in an unobtrusive way. During his illness he never uttered a word of complaint though he must have suffered much. He hardly ever referred to his illness - he was always speaking about school though he must have found it hard to accept that he would not live to see the schemes he had initiated come to fruition now that the all-clear for the much needed extension was about to be given by the Department of Education.
On the evening before he died he uttered his fiat in his own way: "I'm resigned anyway". He was, but those who saw him go were less so!
The great number of people who visited while his remains lay in repose at the hospital in Tralee, and who were present again for his removal to the parish church in Miltown and the Requiem Mass on the following day was an eloquent tribute to Br. Feargal. Mourners, among them many past pupils, came from Dublin, Cobh and Cork, together with hundreds from his home town . The people of Miltown mourned the loss of a great friend. The number of priests who attended bore testimony to the high regard in which they held his work. This was more than a tribute to another soul gone to his reward, it was a grand thank you to a man who did not work for thanks nor for the limelight, for Br. Feargal always shunned all forms of show.
When his remains were removed from Tralee to the Church of the Sacred Heart, Miltown, the mile long cortege entering the village was met by a long line of marching men, players and supporters, young and old of the Miltown - Castlemaine G.A.A. Club. On the coffin was a green and gold Kerry jersey, and heading the guard of honour were two All-Ireland stalwarts, Murt Kelly of Beaufort and John Cronin of Miltown.
At noon on Thursday the Parish Church was filled to overflowing for the concelebrated Requiem Mass. In the homily the principal celebrant Fr. J. Quane, P.P. paid striking and most touching tributes to the deceased Brother. Besides the many clergy present in the sanctuary, also among the huge congregation were many Sisters, and Brothers from every house of the Presentation Order throughout Ireland. The local Church of Ireland Rector, Rev. Edward Woods also attended.
The funeral was one of the largest ever seen in the locality. Long lines of secondary pupils stood silently with their teachers on each side of the road as the cortege passed on the last journey to Killarney. The burial took place in the Brothers' plot in Aghadoe Cemetery. Br. Feargal was the first Brother to be buried there apart from those transferred from the old monastery cemetery.
Br. James Angelus Keane
James Keane was born on 2 April 1872 in the parish of Duagh, Co. Kerry. He was a son of James and Brigid Keane (nee Woulfe).
He was received as a novice Presentation Brother at the South Monastery, Cork, on 23 November 1889, taking Angelus as his religious name.
1889 was the year the Brothers became a Pontifical Congregation following the General Chapter at which Br. Patrick Shine was elected first superior general. Forty two years later Br. Angelus would become the fourth superior general of the congregation.
Br. Angelus made his first profession of vows at the South Monastery on 2 August 1892. Three years later he made his final profession at the newly completed novitiate, Mount St. Joseph, Blarney Street, Cork.
Mount St. Joseph was at that time recognised by the government as a teacher training college and it was here Br. Angelus prepared for the examinations through which he qualified as a primary teacher. He began his teaching career in the Brothers' schools in Cork city.
In In June 1901 Br. Angelus was appointed superior of the community in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal. However he spent only one year there before being appointed superior of the founding community at Dungannon in July 1902. He completed his term as superior at Dungannon in 1907 and remained there for a further three years.
The Presentation Brothers began their mission in Canada in 1910. Canada was then a rapidly developing country, attracting over two million immigrants, many of them Irish, in the fifteen years 1896 -1911.
Br. Angelus was the superior of the pioneering group of Brothers. The Brothers established communities in Montreal, Quebec and in Cornwall, Ontario. Their experience in Cornwall was particuarly difficult. Here the administrators of the Department of Education were of Northern Ireland Presbyterian extraction and were not happy about allowing Irish Catholics to teach in the schools. They refused to recognise the Brothers' qualifications or experience and insisted that they would begin heir training and sit qualifying examinations all over again. The Department officials expected that the Brothers would not submit to this, but they all duly qualified and served the Catholic immigrants in Ontario for many years. Under Br. Angelus' guidance a novitiate was established and many young Canadians joined the congregation.
In June 1931 Br. Angelus travelled to Ireland as a delegate to the general chapter, and the following month he was elected superior general of the congregation in succesion to Br. Peter Curtin.
As an administrator Br. Angelus was meticulous and methodical. While his demeanour left no one in doubt of his authority, he was a warm-hearted, considerate man with a droll sense of humour. As superior general he was manager of all the Brothers' schools in Cork. He visited them all regularly, not merely to check that the paperwork was done and records properly kept, but to ensure that the standard of teaching was of the highest grade.
He completed his six-year term of office in 1937 and at the general chapter held that year he was re-elected and began a second term. This proved to be longer than expected: World War II made travel so difficult and dangerous that the general chapter which should have been convened in 1943 had to be postponed until the summer of 1945 when Br. Evangelist Griffin was elected superior general.
Br. Angelus spent his retirement in Mount St. Joseph, his advice and counsel often sought by the men who were now charged with the responsibilities he had carried so long.
He suffered much as he grew older and the once powerful body became bowed as he hobbled along with the aid of a stick. To the young novices he may have appeared a rather forbidding figure. But he often stood at the Monastery door in the morning and watched the young teaching Brothers set off on foot for St. Joseph's, Presentation College, the South Monastery, St. Patrick's and Scoil Chriost Ri to begin their day in class. And he would be there in the afternoon as they trudged wearily home to ask them how the work was going, as keenly interested as ever in the schools he knew so well.
The long, eventful and fruitful life of Br. Angelus came to a close in 1958. He died peacefully at Mount St. Joseph on 22 April, aged 86. He is buried in the cemetery attached to the Monastery.
Br. Thomas Baptist Moloney
Thomas Moloney, a native of Abbeyfeale, Co, Limerick, was born in 1842.
In 1863 he was received as a member of the Presentation Brothers at the South Monastery, Douglas Street, Cork, taking Baptist as his name in religion.
The first of many from Abbeyfeale parish to join the Presentation Brothers, Br. Baptist made his profession of vows in 1866.
The Presentation Brothers, then known as the Society of the Presentation, had come to Cork in 1811 at the request of Bishop Moylan. Their first foundation in the city was the North Monastery. The Society was a Diocesan congregation, with the local bishop having the final say in the transfer of personnel and other decisions. This arrangement caused some difficulties and in 1821 the Brothers were authorized by Pope Pius VII to become a Pontifical congregation and elect one of their members as Superior General.
A general chapter was convened in Mount Sion, Waterford and on 20th January 1822 Edmund Rice, who had founded the Society in 1802, was elected Superior General. The Brothers present made their vows as members of the newly constituted congregation, now named the Christian Brothers, and in the following years a new rule was compiled.
The Brothers in Cork, at the request of Bishop Moylan's successor, Bishop John Murphy, did not attend the Chapter in Mount Sion and continued to observe the original rule. In the following years most of these Brothers had second thoughts about remaining apart from their Founder and other confreres and despite warnings from Bishop Murphy they went one by one to Waterford where they made their vows according to the new rule, returning to Cork as Christian Brothers.
Br. Michael Augustine Riordan, a native of Doneraile and a noted architect, continued to live according to the old Presentation rule. In 1826 he left the North Monastery and Bishop Murphy provided him with accommodation and a school on the south side of Cork city. He was joined by other men and thus the Society of the Presentation continued in existence.
In November 1827 the Presentation Brothers were given charge of the Lancasterian School in Great George's Street (now Washington Street). Five Brothers were then responsible for two schools with a combined student population of over 1000.
When Br. Baptist Moloney joined the congregation in 1863 the number of Presentation Brothers had grown to about twenty. The Brothers had then two foundations in the Kerry diocese, Killarney (1838) and Miltown (1842) and had a new school, St. Finbarr's N.S. in Greenmount (1854), as well as the other two schools in Cork city.
Br. Baptist resided in the South Monastery in Douglas St., Cork, which had originated as a small convent built by Nano Nagle, foundress of the Presentation Sisters. It was here he received his early formation in monastic and religious life and he served his apprenticeship as a teacher in the South Monastery school.
St. Finbarr's N.S. in Greenmount also catered for boys who resided in the adjacent St. Patrick's Orphanage. From 1871 to 1874 the Greenmount School and Orphanage were also responsible for an extra 126 boys who had been in trouble with the law and had been committed to care by order of the courts. Br. Baptist was one of four Brothers from the South Monastery who, with one layman, comprised the staff at Greenmount.
In 1874 a new building, St. Joseph's, was completed and opened in December 1874 with Br. Patrick Shine in charge.
St. Finbarr's N.S. and St. Patrick's Orphanage continued their original partnership.
The Presentation Brothers continued to grow in numbers and the value and quality of their service was widely recognized. However they had not yet been officially approved as a religious congregation by Rome. In June 1874 approval of their rule, which was in the main points similar to the Presentation Sisters' rule, was granted by decree of Pope Leo XIII.
The Decree was joyfully and solemnly celebrated on New Year's Day 1875. High Mass was celebrated at St. Finbarr's South Chapel by the Bishop of Cork in the presence of a large congregation. Twenty Brothers, 14 from Cork, 5 from Killarney and one from Miltown are named as being present in the sanctuary. Br. Baptist was one of the Cork Brothers.
In 1877 Fr. Bugler, parish priest of Birr, Co. Offaly, made a request to the South Monastery for Brothers to take charge of the new schools in the town. In September 1878 Br. Baptist Moloney, superior, Br. Joseph O'Callaghan, assistant, Br. Stanislaus Kennelly, bursar, Br. de Sales O'Connor, master of novices, Brother Regis Kelly, novice, and Br. Leo O'Sullivan, in charge of temporals, left the South Monastery to form the first community in Birr. The Birr community had its own independent novitiate and a number of postulants were received there and duly made their profession.
Br. Baptist and Br. Joseph O'Callaghan had worked together on the staff at Greenmount National School and Orphanage. The change from Cork seems to have provided something of a culture shock for them.
Writing to Br. Patrick Shine from Birr about the Brothers' first day in school there Br. Baptist says:
"Some of the boys are as grown as we ourselves. The rest of them are very deficient but anxious to learn. Some of them have been away from school a very long time and appear half wild��"
Br. Joseph confirms this :
"We have 200 boys and children. They are mad, no one can keep them quiet. I have about 40 young men in addition .�."
However, in the same letter Br. Joseph adds
"One lad came from a country National School, a really a smart fellow, can speak four languages."
In 1878 there were fifty or more Presentation Brothers in four communities in Ireland: South Monastery, Killarney, Miltown, and Birr . There was also a community in Dartford, England since 1876. The South Monastery community numbered 38, with Br. Patrick Shine as superior.
For some time the Presentation Brothers felt the disadvantages of being a diocesan congregation with the local bishops having the final say in such matters as transfers of Brothers between communities. To address their problems an assembly of the Brothers of the whole Institute was convened at the South Monastery from March 12th to 17th 1885. Thirteen Brothers from Cork, six from Birr and one each from Killarney, Miltown and Dartford were present. Br. Austin Shanahan presided.
Dr. Thomas A. O'Callaghan, a Dominican, who was consecrated co-adjutor Bishop of Cork the previous year, encouraged and advised the Brothers to overcome whatever fears they had about amalgamation and assured them if they were unanimous in their petition that all would come right. He had experience in Rome before his appointment, and knew the ways of the Vatican and was able to give valuable guidance on procedure.
At the assembly a petition to the Holy See was formulated requesting a revision of the Constitutions to allow for amalgamation under a Superior General.
Four years later, on June 2nd 1889, Pope Leo XIII granted approval in every respect for ten years and personally commanded that the decree of approval, placing the congregation under a Superior General with direct dependence on the Apostolic See, be promulgated.
On 1 July 1889 thirty two Brothers assembled in the upper schoolroom in Douglas Street.
The Brothers unanimously elected Brother Patrick Shine as Superior General on the first ballot.
The election of Assistants to the Superior General followed and Brothers Eugene Ignatius Connolly, Edmund Austin Shanahan, William Berchmans Walsh and Thomas Baptist Moloney were elected.
By October Br. Patrick and his four assistants had taken up residence in a rented house, Ardfallen, Sunday's Well, Cork.
Raising funds to build a central novitiate for the Institute was a priority of the Superior General and his assistants. Appeals had been made to people at home many times for various purposes connected with the houses of the Institute in Cork and the response had always been generous and now it was hoped that friends and past pupils in America would also be generous. Accordingly it was decided to send two Brothers, Austin Shanahan and Baptist Molony to the United States on a fund-raising mission. However Br. Baptist's health was giving cause for concern and shortly before the Brothers were due to depart his doctor stated that it would be better for him not to travel. Br. de Sales Mehegan was appointed to take his place.
The new novitiate, Mount St. Joseph, Blarney Street, Cork, was completed in 1894 and replaced the South Monastery as the mother house of the congregation. The Superior General and his assistants took up residence there. The number of young men willing to join the congregation increased and Br. Patrick was able to consider invitations to establish communities in various dioceses. A decade of great expansion followed and new foundations were made in Cobh, Kinsale, Carrick-on-Shannon, Letterkenny, Boyle, Enniskillen, Dungannon, and Glasthule.
Br. Baptist died at Mount St. Joseph on 23rd July 1910, aged 67.
He is buried in the community cemetery there.
Br. Cornelius Michael Carmody
Cornelius Carmody was born at Ballinahown, Knocknagoshel, Co. Kerry on 14 August 1887.
He was received as a Presentation Brother at Mount St. Joseph on 10 March 1906, taking Michael as his name in religion. He made his first profession of vows on St. Patrick's Day 1908.
Br. Michael served in the English province at St. Vincent's, Dartford and St. Joseph's, Orpington.
As a young man he displayed an aptitude for business, an attention to detail and a capacity for organisation such as one rarely meets with even among those well advanced in years. He was tactful, of high principle and of sterling honesty of purpose and had a remarkable understanding of human nature.
As a religious no one could have been more conscientious in regard to the obligations of his profession.
He was appointed Superior at St. Joseph's, Orpington, in 1916 at the early age of 29. He was not in good health at this time: indeed his doctor was of opinion that the responsibility would eventually prove to be too great for his strength. Of that, no doubt, he himself was well aware. But he was obedient and accepted with resignation the duties imposed upon him, stoically observing as he did so that it is easier to bear illness doing something than doing nothing.
In the capacity of Superior he was vigorous, independent and self-reliant. Order, regularity and punctual attendance at the different exercises were maintained as the result, on his part, of a due admixture of kindness, firmness and justice. The Brothers in the community and the secular staff over whom he was appointed to rule did not fail to observe that behind his kindly, courteous and pleasing manner, lay a sense of duty and a determination to overcome difficulties which made him a model for all.
He led by the example of his faith, courage, modesty, unselfishness and self-control. An abiding sense of duty rounded his whole life as a religious - duty to superiors, to his colleagues, to his pupils, to God. He always acted his part, honestly and honourably, and to the best of his ability. He was just and generous and faithful, even in small things. It is only natural to believe in such men, to have confidence in them, and to imitate them.
The other great trait in his character was his resignation in sickness. A book entitled Practical Meditations was used in all the Presentation monasteries for many years. In a meditation on Death the first sentence is "Sickness changes no one, but shows what he is." Br. Michael's health was never robust and he suffered much, but the patience, resignation and gratitude for little services he always exhibited left a lasting impression on all who knew him.
After only two years in Orpington Br. Michael had to return to Ireland and became a patient at Saint Patrick's Hospital, Cork. He died at St. Patrick's on 16th October 1918. He was 31 years old and was 12 years in religion.
He is buried at Mount St. Joseph.
Br. Patrick Thomas O'Connor
Patrick O'Connor was a native of Boula, Knocknagoshel, Co. Kerry. He was born on 21st September 1949, one of the family of five daughters and four sons of Thomas and Joan O'Connor.
Having completed his primary education at the local national school he came to Colaiste Therese, Greenmount in 1963 to begin his second level studies.
He was received as a Presentation Brother in Mount St. Joseph, Cork, taking Thomas as his name in religion, in August 1966 and made his profession of vows two years later.
Br. Thomas served on the West Indian mission in Barbados and Grenada from 1970 to '72 and in Reading, England from 1972 to '73.
In 1977 he graduated from University College, Cork with a B.A. in Irish and Archaeology.
Br. Thomas was very athletic and during his student days he excelled at many games, particularly Gaelic football.
He taught in Colaiste Therese, Cork, in Birr and in Bray. He was community leader in Birr from 1987 to 1990 and in Bray from 1991 to 1997.
In 1999 Br. Thomas volunteered for the Ghana mission, arriving there on 4 January 2000. He taught first at Zamse Secondary Technical School in Bolgatanga, moving to Notre Dame, Navrongo, in September 2002.
An unassuming man, he went about his duties diligently and without fuss. He was a great community man, enjoying the company of his confreres and enlivening many an evening with his stories and the occasional song or tune on the accordion.
On the evening of Monday November 4th 2002 Br. Thomas died at the War Memorial Hospital in Navrongo. He had been ill only for a few days with cerebral malaria, a particularly virulent form of this tropical disease.
His unexpected death after a short illness was a great shock to his confreres and friends in Ghana and in Ireland. When Bishop Lucas was told of Br. Thomas' death he said "You Presentation Brothers are deepening your roots here in Ghana."
His funeral Mass in Navrongo, on Wednesday November 6th, was attended by all the Brothers in the region, the Christian Brothers from Tamale and the F.I.C. Brothers from the Upper West Region. The staff and students from Notre Dame and many friends were among the mourners. The Mass was concelebrated by Bishop Lucas, Father Simon, headmaster at Notre Dame, and several priests of the diocese, and the hymns were sung by the college student choir.
After the Mass the funeral took place to the Brothers' novitiate, Mount St. Joseph at Kongo Logre. Here Br. Thomas was laid to rest in the little cemetery, beside Br. James Prud'homme, a Canadian Brother who died in 1993.
Br. Thomas' mother Joan, his sisters Betty, Theresa and Kathleen, and his brothers Tom, Jack and Kerry came to Mount St. Joseph in Cork on Friday, November 8th. His sister Maureen is a missionary nun in Uganda. His father Tom and his sister Noreen predeceased him. Mass was celebrated by Fr. Francis Kodelogo in the chapel at Mount St. Joseph where Br. Thomas had pronounced his vows thirty four years earlier. Fr. Francis had been teaching with him at Notre Dame. Many Brothers, Associates and friends were present. After the Mass all went in procession to the monastery cemetery where a wreath was laid, and after the final blessing the Brothers, as is their custom when a member of the Congregation is laid to rest, sang the Salve Regina.
Masses were also celebrated in the parish churches at Birr and Bray and on December 6th a month's mind Mass was celebrated by Fr. Francis Kodelogo in Br. Thomas' home parish church, St. Mary's, Knocknagoshel.
Br. Aeneas Peter Curtin
Aeneas Curtin was born at Stagmount, Rockchapel,
Co. Cork on 24th February 1861.
He was received as a Presentation Brother at the South Monastery on January 1st 1881 taking Peter as his name in religion. He made his profession of vows on January 1st 1883.
Br. Peter was one of twenty two Brothers who assembled at the South Monastery from March 12th to 17th 1885, the first Assembly of Brothers representing the whole Institute. Br. Austin Shanahan presided and a petition to the Holy See was formulated requesting a revision of the Constitutions to allow for amalgamation under a Superior General.-
Their request was granted in 1889 and Br. Peter was a delegate at the first General Chapter, held in July that year, at which the Institute became a Pontifical Congregation and Br. Patrick Shine was elected Superior General.
When Br. Peter joined the Brotherhood he had been educated only at the local National School but he very quickly acquired a thorough knowledge of Latin, French, German and Italian.
In August 1880 Br. Patrick Shine had opened the first second level day school in Cork at 13 South Mall. The first year there were fourteen students drawn from the Lancasterian School, the South Monastery and Greenmount. From the start the examination results of the students were very satisfactory. The second year enrollment had increased to over one hundred boys and after two years the school moved to more spacious premises at 52 Grand Parade where it remained for a further five years. Br. Peter taught at the schools on the South Mall and the Grand Parade. When these schools subsequently developed into Presentation College on the Mardyke he taught there for many years and his brilliant and effective teaching especially in modern languages was largely instrumental in securing for it a foremost place amongst the colleges of the country. There was about his personality that refinement of bearing that quite unconsciously won respect. The soul of courtesy himself, he looked upon refinement of manners as an index of interior worth, and he always inculcated amongst his students gentleness and forbearance in their dealings with one another.
In 1905 Br. Patrick Shine died in office and Br. Aloysius Rahilly was elected to succeed him as Superior General with Br. Peter as one of his assistants.
In 1913 Br. Peter took a prominent part in opening the Brothers' new foundation at Cornwall, Ontario and later that year he embarked on a fundraising campaign, aided by Br. de Lellis Murray, in various parishes in Montreal.
In the summer of 1914 Br. Peter purchased, for -----$19,000 dollars, a substantial building near St. Anthony's Church in Longueil. Under his direction with the help of friends of the Brothers the building was furnished and served for many years as the Canadian novitiate.
In June 1923 Br. Peter and Br. Bruno O'Donoghue went to Rome to expedite the approval of the amended Constitutions as drawn up by the General Chapter of 1921. They also sought approval to raise Canada to the status of Province and this was granted in 1922.
In 1925 Br. Peter was elected Superior General in succession to Br. Aloysius Rahilly who had held this office since 1905.
As Superior General Br. Peter's government was specially noted for its wise and prudent measures. He won the confidence of his subjects who recognised that his aspirations and ideals were drawn from an interior spirituality untouched by self-interest. In the management of the business affairs of the Institute he was equally successful, and he made many friends in various walks of life. He discharged his onerous duties and bore the attendant anxieties, cares and crosses with unceasing solicitude and untiring personal sacrifice.
A decision had been taken at the 1925 Chapter to reduce the term of office of the Superior General from ten to six years and Br. Angelus Keane was elected to succeed Br. Peter in 1931.
Br. Peter died at the Mercy Home, Cork on 3rd December 1936 after a short illness.
He was buried at Mount St. Joseph.
Taken from Presentation Brothers site
http://www.presentationbrothers.com/biogs/index.htm
Litany of St. Thomas More,
Martyr and Patron Saint of Statesmen, Politicians and Lawyers
V. Lord, have mercy
R. Lord have mercy
V. Christ, have mercy
R. Christ have mercy
V. Lord, have mercy
R. Lord have mercy
V. Christ hear us
R. Christ, graciously hear us
V. St. Thomas More, Saint and Martyr,
R. Pray for us (Repeat after each invocation)
St. Thomas More, Patron of Statesmen, Politicians and Lawyers
St. Thomas More, Patron of Justices, Judges and Magistrates
St. Thomas More, Model of Integrity and Virtue in Public and Private Life
St. Thomas More, Servant of the Word of God and the Body and Blood of Christ
St. Thomas More, Model of Holiness in the Sacrament of Marriage
St. Thomas More, Teacher of his Children in the Catholic Faith
St. Thomas More, Defender of the Weak and the Poor
St. Thomas More, Promoter of Human Life and Dignity
V.Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world
R.Spare us O Lord
V.Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world
R.Graciously hear us O Lord
V.Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world
R.Have mercy on us
Let us pray:
O Glorious St. Thomas More, Patron of Statesmen, Politicians, Judges and Lawyers, your life of prayer and penance and your zeal for justice, integrity and firm principle in public and family life led you to the path of martyrdom and sainthood. Intercede for our Statesmen, Politicians, Judges and Lawyers, that they may be courageous and effective in their defense and promotion of the sanctity of human life - the foundation of all other human rights. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.