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The history of the Baltimore and Wilmington Foundations.
Letters sent to Wilmington
Nov 15 1949
When our Fathers settled in Paradise, Harrisburg Diocese, the Superiors were unaware of the fact that they were in the territory of the Penna Prov. In due time, the Fathers of the said Province objected and refused our Father a Conmicial Foundation.
When I became Superior of Paradise in 1915, I did not know of this condition. When Most Rev. Fr. Venantius Min. General same on Visitation to the other Provs, in 1917, I saw him in New York. In the course of conversation he mentioned to me that we would not be disturbed in Paradise.
Likewise when Most Rev. Fr. Joseph Antony summoned me to Cumberland the question of Paradise was brought up. Fr Benedict asked me if the Fr. General spoke of Paradise and when I replied in the affirmative he said it was bad taste on the part of the Fr. General as that matter had been settled when he was Prov. Much to the surprise, however of our Provincial Fr. Sylvester the Penn Friars protested again in 1926 and had the Fr. General issue orders for us to get out.
Knowing the danger of such conduct, our Fathers tried more than once to get another place outside their limits. In 1923, Fr. Peters sought a place in Boston. In 1926, Fr Thomas tried Boston again. I saw the Bishop of Fall River and later Bishop Nilan of Hartford.
On April 30, 1926, Fr. Thomas and I called on the V.G. of Newark Msgr. Duffy and were successful as his letter shows
Dear Fr. Brendan, I took the matter of securing a place in the Diocese for the Irish Capuchins up with the Bishop and he approved of the application in principle. I mean by that that the Bishop is willing that you should locate in the Diocese and gives his permission but has not yet determined the manner in which the Community shall come here. I think however, that this is a detail we may arrange with satisfaction to all at a later time. I shall look into the matter and have you come over so that we may arrange the details of your coming. Very sincerely yours, John A. Duffy, V.G. To our surprise Fr. Peter Prov. sent a wire from Rome during the Chapter that we could not enter Newark, date May 26, 26.
Once again begins the search. Looking over the Map and consulting the boundaries of the other Provinces we settled on Delaware which evidently owing to its size was overlooked when they roped in the heart of the States On Nov. 4th 26, accompanied by Fr. J. Troy who knows the Bishop we asked Bishop FitzMaurice for a place. Though he promised he begged for time. The following May I visited him again with the same result. In the Fall of the same year in Company with Fr. Edwin Prov. he renewed his promise but still nothing settled.
Feeling that we were not getting anywhere with Bishop FitzMaurice I asked Fr. Kevin Prov. when here in 29, if it would be all right to approach Archbishop Curley of Baltimore, seeing that Maryland was not mentioned in the official Decree of the Congregation he consented. The following month, I saw Fr. Quinn later the Rector of the Catholical he gave me a hint how to go about it. Four days after June 8th I wrote the Archbishop, he replied that he would have to take up the matter with the Consultors, he asked me to get in touch with Fr. Quinn and come back to him on his return from Ireland
In Oct. I wrote him and received the following letter, Nov 1st Rev. & dear Fr. O'Callaghan, As I shall be absent from Baltimore from the 4th to the 16th of Nov. I shall not be able to put the matter of your locating here before the board of Consultors, I do not wish to entangly your anxiety by putting the matter off too long. I am writing therefore to say to that if you think the Towson location discussed by you with Fr. Quinn will meet your needs I have no objection to your taking steps looking towards establishing the house in that section of the City of Baltimore. The conditions of such an establishment, you understand. They are no more and no less than the ones laid down in my conversation with you. All that can be committed to writing later on ----- It might be possible perhaps to find a better location
* The Towson location is conditions had been approved by A. Kevin Prov.
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Fr. Joseph and I saw the Archbishop Nov 22 and the following day Fr. Joseph sent the wire "Returned today for final arrangements with Archbishop very friendly House secured on legal advice, moderate sum. Order undertaking financial responsability, taking possession quam primum."
I should have mentioned that in answer to my letter to the Provincial asking to accept the conditions laid down I received the following cable from the Prov. Agreeable provided no constitutional or canonical rights waived. On Dec. 1st Fr. Joseph cabled Baltimore house secured in virtue cable. May the Fathers move in Matter urgent Retaining Abbottstown as directed. Please cable To which Fr. Kevin replied. Move in pending final decision from Rome.
Fr. Kevin wrote Dec. 14, Will you please write at once directly to Fr. Sylvester giving full particulars of the house in Baltimore as he wants it quam primum I hope everything will turn out all right.
Dec. 17th the Archbishop wrote, Permission is hereby granted to the Cap Fathers of the Irish Province to establish a house of residence for the mission band within the limits of the Archdiocese.
Pursuant to this permission already given viva voce the Fathers have taken residence in the City of Balto within the limits of the Immaculate Coception Parish of Towson.
I this mutually understood that the Fathers are not given permission to conduct a parish.
2 The private Chapel is for the private - exclusive use of the Fathers
3 The Fathers are to enjoy the Faculties of the Archdiocese
4 The Fathers undertake to supply a Chaplain to St. Vincents Orphanage Fr. Fabian and I had moved in Dec. 12 after the cable from Fr. Prov.
We were scarcely there when a protest was made by the Prov of Penn Prov. as the following letter shows, written from Dublin Dec. 23 by Prov. A nice bombshell has reached me from Rome, Fr. Sylvester writes saying that Maryland is in the district of the Penn Prov. Tho not mentioned in the Decree He came across a letter in the Archives in which the Fr. Procurator wrote "Quantum vero ad limites nullum est dubium pro Statu Maryland vobis enim competunt omnes Districtus seu Status in quibus habetis Conventus erectos. That was written in 1882 their Convent in Cumberland was founded in 1875 I am writing to the Prov of Pennit is extraordinary that in the official list of the States supplied by the General Def. such information should be withheld."
Then there followed a series of letters between Fr. Kevin and the Prov. of the Pitt. Province and the Archbishop which is in the Archives On Jan 20 30 I received this cable from the Prov. Cable protesting against Baltimore received from Pittsburg. Kevin.
Jan 24 the Arch. wrote again to the Prov of the Pitt Province. The letter is worth reading among other things he wrote. I still insist that this a family fight that is not very diffying. I would understand it if there was the slightest interference with the work that the men of the Penn Province are doing However I reelagate the fight to the Capuchin Order. If the rules of the Order are to be enforced they must be enforced by the superiors. I have no fault to find with you as Prov. protecting what you term the rights of your Prov. If those rights had been attacked by members of some other Religious Order it would not be half so amusing as it is to find the Prov. of the Penn. Prov. defending himself from attack by the Prov. of the Irish Prov. of the same Order. I still enjoy a combat and would not mind having a ringside seat when the V. Rev. Fr. Thos. Petrie enters the ring with the V. Rev. K. Monnihan. The referee who is to give a decision would have to be the General himself.
April 5th Fr. Kevin sent Fr.