MSC Centennial in Ireland - 2009Early beginnings in Cork:
Fr. Michael Tierney MSC
Fr. John Mary Neenan, the first Irish MSC, made profession in the Society in France on 8 September 1877. He went to Ireland soon afterwards before setting out for Watertown, New York State, USA, in December of that year. Fr. Neenan was Dean at Saint Colman’s College the previous year. When he returned to Issoudun, France, after his visit to his home country he brought with him five pupils for the Apostolic School. Among them was Michael Tierney who then spent one year at the Petite–Oeuvre, or the Apostolic School. On 11 November 1878, Michael Tierney entered the MSC novitiate, at Saint Gerand-le-Puy, and temporary profession took place on 21 November 1879. Three years later, 21 November 1882, he made his final profession in the congregation. In 1881, as a scholastic, Bro. Michael Tierney was home in Ireland and recruited six candidates for the Society. All were from the area of Mallow in County Cork. Two entered the novitiate and four became students of the Apostolic School. As none of the new pupils had any knowledge of French Bro. Michael Tierney undertook the task of teaching them that language. Anticlerical legislation in France enacted on 05 November 1880, was the primary reason for the establishment of an Apostolic School at Madeley, Shropshire, England. Fr. Xavier Deidier, a French MSC, recently returned from the MSC house in Barcelona, Spain, was placed in charge. As assistant he was given Bro. Michael Tierney who had to interrupt his studies in order to provide services required. The new foundation was begun in September 1882 and soon afterwards an Apostolic School was started with the unusual name of 'Lesser Work', derived from the French 'Petite Oeuvre'. The Irish scholastic, although not a priest, seems to have helped French priests, who had arrived from the continent by November, with their sermons and to have done much of the Sunday preaching. Candidates for the Apostolic School from the immediate vicinity of Madeley were few so it was decided to look for them farther a field. Bro. Michael Tierney, who had already proved his recruiting ability, was sent to Ireland to seek out boys with a desire to become Priests. Success in this mission was supremely important in the development of the new Apostolic School. Already on 23 February 1882, Bro. Michael Tierney had written to Fr. Chevalier in relation to establishing a house of the Society in Ireland. With letters from Father General and with support from some well-known local Mallow people, Bro. Tierney made contact with the Bishops of Cork, Cloyne, Ross and Cashel with a view to obtaining permission for an MSC foundation in Ireland. A negative response declared that the Catholic population had enough to do in supporting their own clergy due to the poverty experienced in many parishes. Bro. Michael Tierney was ordained at Bourges, France, on 29 March 1884. Afterwards he returned to Madeley but not for long. In the short period between his ordination and embarking for Australia from the port of Marseilles, in Southern France, on 29 July 1885, Fr. Michael Tierney had been associated with Spain, the Netherlands, the United States, Rome, and Sydney. Frequent changes of responsibilities undertaken appear to have been a feature of the developing society. A written communication to Fr. Chevalier, subsequent to a personal conversation with him, immediately prior to his departure for Oceania, is testimony of a keen interest on the part of Fr. Tierney to have found a house of the Society in Ireland. Archbishop Patrick Francis Moran, transferred from the Diocese of Ossory in Ireland to Sydney, 14 March 1884, and later created Cardinal on 27 July 1885, on being requested by the MSC for permission to have a procure for their Missions in the Archdiocese granted the request on two conditions. These were that (i) The MSC would administer a Parish in the city, and (ii) they would undertake mission work on the south coast of Papua where the non-Catholic London Missionary Society had been evangelising since 1874. Cardinal Moran expressed the wish that a priest from the congregation be sent to Randwick who was of Irish or English origin with a command of the English language. In a letter, 20 July 1885, Fr. Chevalier states that such a person is now available "I have recalled from our house in America Fr. Michael Tierney, Cork, Ireland; he is a serious minded man of proven piety". 
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church, Randwick
Interior view of the Church
Fr. Tierney leaving Sydney in 1898
Town Hall Scroll, Fr. Tierney
The building was situated on a three and a half acre site, opposite the entrance to the Mardyke walk, a short distance beyond the city boundary. There was sufficient space to accommodate at least twenty persons. Information regarding the permission given by the Bishop of Cork was conveyed to the Central MSC Administration on 14 April 1909. By the month of August the new acquisition was ready to receive students for the Apostolic School. Fr. Michael Tierney was appointed priest in charge with the official title of Pro-Superior. In granting permission for the MSC foundation the Bishop of Cork demanded that two stipulations be observed. One was that the MSC would not build and open a church to serve a local congregation. The other required them to assist the diocesan clergy by supplying priests needing pastoral help. Assistance to parish clergy became a notable feature of MSC ministry and helped to gain recognition from the local congregations for the new Society members in their midst. Convents too were happy with the willingness of MSCs to celebrate Mass and hear confession when needed, as was frequently the case. 
Dyke House
In this environment, a very modest beginning expanded into something great. Dedicated priests and missionaries received their earliest, formal training within the walls of what became known as the Sacred Heart College and, later, gave long and faithful service to the preaching of the Gospel, at home and far away. Some even gave their lives in the effort. The first applications for the novitiate from students, who had pursued their complete post primary education programme at the Apostolic School in Cork, were made in June 1914. While this was a great blessing for all involved in the Western Road MSC house it raised the question on provision of a novitiate in Ireland. Then there would be need for a house of philosophy, and theology. These were matters to which Fr. Tierney gave serious thought and much time writing to the Central Administration of the Society informing members of the Irish needs and seeking the required permissions. A bulky dossier in the General Archives in Rome contains all his considerable correspondence. Concerned with all these responsibilities and with age accentuating his physical infirmities he became convinced that greater mental and physical energy than he possessed was needed for the position of Pro-Superior in Ireland. Beginning on 26 January 1917, at least five requests were made by Fr. Tierney to be relieved of his position. 
Fr. Tierney MSC
With his term of office completed he returned to St. Albans as Superior until 1923, and remained there until recalled to Cork in 1927. In Cork he helped his fellow priests and was always at the disposal of the Superior for mission work. He was beloved by the priests and students of the college who looked upon him as their guide, counsellor, and friend. Ever ready to help by his advice and experience he endeared himself both to the clergy and the laity. The new church of the Sacred Heart was to be opened on 12 June, 1931. Fr. Tierney was looking forward to this as the seal of his life's work. Anxiously he awaited the joyous day. It was not to be. God decreed that he was not to enjoy the triumph; and so on the morning of 10 June He called His servant to his rest. However, we are sure that the call was the one which he always endeavoured to obtain: "Well done, thou good and faithful servant". May he rest in peace with the Sacred Heart whom he adored and loved? |