'A mission-minded nation': popular domestic experiences of the Irish Catholic missionary movement in the twentieth century

Abstract

By the mid-twentieth century missionary activity to pagan countries had become an integral feature of Irish Catholic culture. In 1955 it was estimated that over 4,500 Irish men and women were working abroad with the aim of winning souls for Catholicism. The missions had become a well-established cornerstone of Irish national identity and were regularly held up as one of Ireland s few success stories. Despite newly independent Ireland s poor economic performance, each year thousands of pounds left Irish shores with the goal of saving the pagans and black babies . Focusing on the domestic perspective, this thesis explores the emergence of this cultural phenomenon and examines both how and why Ireland embraced missionary activity with such enthusiasm. Combining archival research with a close reading of published periodicals, this thesis concentrates on the myriad of ways in which mission-sending congregations engaged Ireland s Catholic laity. It explores the hugely popular missionary magazines as well as the broader complex of recruitment and fundraising. These networks reached all sectors of society and were constantly evolving to adapt to current theological, political and cultural trends. The success of the whole missionary movement was predicated on its ability to establish symbiotic relationships with both individual supporters and wider society. This project examines these relationships during the growth, zenith and decline of the missions. Belief and support of pagan missions was part of a much western broader trend. By incorporating a comparative element, this thesis places popular Irish experiences of the missionary phenomenon into their broader historical context. Finally, it examines the rejection of the missions in post-Vatican II Ireland and the dramatic shifts in cultural attitudes towards foreign aid. It concludes with a discussion of how the once glorified missionary bodies attempted to reposition themselves within a society which was increasingly uncomfortable with the fundamentals of their existence.