5 - Canonical Visitation Report for 1950

5

Canonical Visitation Report for 1950

7 pp; typescript

Canoncial visitation report compiled by Fr. Stephen Murtagh OFM Cap. for the Irish Capuchin custody in the United States. The report includes commentary on the spiritual, physical and financial condition of various churches and friaries in Oregon, California, and Delaware. The report also outlines a critical manpower crisis paralyzing the custody. Father Murtagh stresses a desperate need for more priests, noting that the home province has been entirely drained of personnel due to commitments in America and the African Mission. To illustrate the strain, he contrasts the 33 active priests of 1937 against the current roster of 42: after accounting for friars who are ill, aged, serving in the Air Corps, or teaching at the Flintridge Seraphic School, only 25 priests remain available to do the work previously handled by 33. This severe shortage has left growing parishes understaffed – forcing the Wilmington house to rely heavily on financial assistance, leaving Oregon short by four priests, and leaving Father Murtagh to manage St. Francis in Los Angeles largely alone due to assistants being hospitalized with tuberculosis or placed on long-term sick leave.

ISAD(G) 2nd edition