Saint Patrick's Society for the Foreign Missions explained

Saint Patrick's Society for the Foreign Missions
Native Name:Societas Sancti Patritii pro Missionibus ad Exteros [1]
Abbreviation:S.P.S. (post-nominal letters)
Nickname:Kiltegan Fathers
Founder:Msgr. Patrick Joseph Whitney, SPS
Founding Location:Kiltegan, County Wicklow, Ireland.
Type:Society of Apostolic Life of Pontifical Right (for Men)
Headquarters:International Headquarters
St. Patrick's, Kiltegan, County Wicklow, Ireland
Num Members:345 members (253 priests) as of 2018
Leader Title:Motto
Leader Name:Latin:

English:
Christ's love compels us
Leader Title2:Superior General
Leader Name2:Fr. Victor Dunne, SPS
Leader Title3:Patron saints
Leader Title4:Ministry
Leader Name4:Missionary and educational works
Parent Organization:Roman Catholic Church
Website:http://www.spms.org/

St. Patrick's Society for the Foreign Missions (Latin Societas Sancti Patritii pro Missionibus ad Exteros; also known as the Kiltegan Fathers) is a Catholic society of apostolic life of pontifical right for men composed of missionary priests. Its headquarters is at Kiltegan, County Wicklow in Ireland. Its members add the nominal initials SPS after their names to indicate their membership in the Society. The motto in Latin and English of the Society is and Christ's love compels us, (2 Corinthians 5:14), respectively.

History

The Kiltegan Fathers origins stem from an appeal by Bishop Joseph (Ignatius) Shanahan of the Holy Ghost Order, in 1920 to the seminary students in Maynooth College for missionaries to Nigeria, Africa, where he was bishop; later that year Fr. Whitney accompanied Bishop Shanahan to Africa.

The society was founded officially on St Patrick's Day, 17 March 1932 by Monsignor Patrick Whitney (1894 - 1942) at Kiltegan, County Wicklow, Ireland. Its original aim was the Christian evangelization of Nigeria. In 1951, the society expanded its missionary activities outside of Nigeria.[2]

In the 1950s the society expanded, building a new college in Kiltegan, and opening a House of Studies in Sutton House, Rochestown, Douglas in Cork, with seminarians attending lectures in University College Cork.

In 1997 the Kiltegan Fathers, with the drop in vocations from Ireland, officially decided to open up internationally and set up houses of formation in Nigeria and Kenya. In 2000 trainee priests began studying philosophy in St Joseph's Institute in Cedara, South Africa, and KWA Patrick house was setup. 2002 seen students study theology at the Kiltegan House in Nairobi, as the Society joined other orders in Tangaza University College. Also in 2002 a house of formation was founded in Lusaka, Zambia.

As of 2018, the society has 253 priests on four continents including the countries of Nigeria, Cameroon, Kenya, Malawi, South Sudan, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Uganda, Grenada, Brazil, the United States, Italy, England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.

St. Patricks Missionary College - High Park, Kiltegan

The Society moved to High Park, about 2 km from Kiltegan County Wicklow the former home of the Westby family, and named it St. Patrick's. It had been donated by a catholic businessman John Hughes to Fr. Pat Whitney in 1929. Fr. Whitney took over the building in 1930. The High Park residence had been rebuilt after it had been damaged in the 1798 rebellion.

People Associated with St. Patrick's College, Kiltegan

Bishop James Kavanagh, taught in Kiltegan. Seán J. White the writer, academic, broadcaster and journalist and Don Mullan the humanitarian and media producer, studied in Kiltegan.

Timeline

Abuse cases

In May 2011 allegations of sexual abuse by a member of the society in Africa were made on the RTÉ programme Prime Time Investigates.[5] [6]

Jeremiah McGrath, SPS was convicted in Liverpool, England in May 2007 for facilitating abuse by a paedophile named Billy Adams. McGrath had given Adams £20,000 in 2005 and Adams had used the money to impress 12-year-old Jade Critchlow whom he then raped over a six-month period. McGrath denied knowing about the abuse but admitted having a brief sexual relationship with Adams. His appeal in January 2008 was dismissed.[7]

In 2003 the society paid €325,000 for abuse committed by Fr. Peter Kennedy, SPS in 1982.[8]

Notable members of the Society

Current organisation

In 2014 St Patrick's Missionary Society held a General Chapter meeting which elected a new leadership team. In 2015 the society commenced moving its headquarters from Kiltegan in Ireland to Nairobi in Kenya. The Society produces the Africa - St. Patrick's Mission magazine.[10] The Society has installed a wind turbine in Kiltegan.[11] There is also a retirement home in Kiltegan for its members.

The Kiltegan Fathers in association with Sisters of the Holy Faith in 2013, worked to set up a primary school in Riwoto, South Sudan.[12]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Saint Patrick's Society for the Foreign Missions, S.P.S . Gcatholic.org . 2022-08-16.
  2. Web site: History . St. Patrick's Missionary Society . 2012-03-28.
  3. http://www.kilteganfathers.org/about/ About
  4. http://www.irishcatholic.ie/article/kiltegans-relocate-africa-due-lack-vocations Kiltegans relocate to Africa due to lack of vocations
  5. News: Archived . RTÉ News . unfit . https://web.archive.org/web/20110527171108/http://www.rte.ie/player/ . May 27, 2011 . 2023-06-06.
  6. News: Morning Ireland: Regina Doherty discusses latest hearing into Portlaoise baby deaths . . . 2015-05-20 .
  7. News: Priest who helped groom child for sex loses appeal . . 2009-04-08 . 2008-01-24.
  8. News: Anita Guidera . Bishop is urged to tell all he knew of abuse case . . 3 September 2003 . 2015-05-20.
  9. http://www.kandle.ie/kiltegan-priest-bishop-brazil/ Kiltegan Priest appointed Bishop in Brazil
  10. https://www.facebook.com/AfricaMagazineKiltegan/ Africa Magazine Facebook page
  11. https://enerpower.ie/portfolio/wind-turbine-instalation-st-patricks-missionary/ Wind Trubine installation St Patricks Missionary Society
  12. https://holyfaithsisters.org/about-us/ what we do