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Father John Sullivan SJ Servant of God (8 May 1861 - 19 February 1933)        ''

John Sullivan was an Irish Catholic priest of the Jesuit order, widely known for his life of prayer and personal sacrifice. He is recognised for his dedicated work with the poor and afflicted, spending much of his time walking and cycling to visit those who were troubled, sick and dying in the villages around Clongowes Wood College school in County Kildare, Ireland where he taught from 1907 until his death. From the 1920s onwards many people testified to the healing power of his prayers although he never claimed any credit or causation for himself.

Early Life 

John Sullivan was born into a wealthy Dublin family. His father Edward, a Protestant, was a successful barrister who would later become the Lord Chancellor of Ireland. His mother, Elizabeth Bailey, was a Catholic from a prominent land-owning family in Passage West, County Cork. He was the youngest of five children. John grew up in privilege in late 19th Century Dublin society, raised as a protestant as was traditional in Ireland at the time for sons of Protestant fathers and Catholic mothers. Following in his father's footsteps, John chose an academic career, culminating in him reading Law at Trinity College Dublin.

Career in the Priesthood

John Sullivan was received into the Catholic Church on December 21st 1896 by Father Michael Gavin SJ at Farm St Church Mayfair, in central London He commenced his Jesuit novitiate on September 7th 1900 at St Stanislaus College Tullabeg in County Offaly. On completion of his novitiate he was sent for two years of philosophical study to St. Mary's Hall Stonyhurst, the philosophical seminary of the English province of the Jesuit Order. In 1904 at the end of his philosophy he went to Milltown Park, Dublin for his theology studies and was ordained a Jesuit priest by Archbishop Walsh in the chapel at Milltown Park on Sunday July 28th 1907. He said his first mass at the convent of the Irish Sisters of Charity, Mount St. Anne's, Milltown.

Soon after he took up a teaching post at Clongowes Wood College the Jesuit secondary boarding school for boys near Clane, Co. Kildare. From July 25th 1919 until May 20th 1924 he was Rector of the Juniorate and Retreat House at Rathfarnham Castle on the outskirts of Dublin. He then returned to teaching at Clongowes Wood College. In February 1933 after suffering severe abdominal pains he was transferred from Clongowes to St. Vincent's Nursing Home in Lower Leeson St. Dublin. He died at 11pm on 19th February 1933, aged 71 with his brother Sir William Sullivan at his side. He was buried in Clongowes Wood Cemetery.

Personal and Family Life

John Sullivan was born on 8 May 1861 at 41 Eccles Street, in the heart of old Georgian Dublin. He was baptised in the local Church of Ireland parish, St. George’s, Temple Street, on 15 July 1861. It was soon after this that the family moved to 32 Fitzwilliam Place Dublin. In 1872, the young John was sent to Portora Royal School, Enniskillen In 1877 his brother Robert drowned after a boating accident in Dublin Bay at the age of 24 along with a family friend, Constance Exham.

After Portora, John went to Trinity College, Dublin, where he studied Classics. He was awarded the Gold Medal in Classics in 1885. He studied for the Engish Bar at Lincoln's Inn in London.Around that time During this period he traveled Europe extensively, especially spending time taking walking tours of Macedonia, Greece, and Asia Minor. He spent several months in one of the Orthodox Monasteries on Mount Athos, even contemplating entering as a monk.

Servant of God

In 1944 Fr Sullivan's name was placed on the list drawn up by the postulator of causes in Rome, Fr Carlo Micinelli SJ A tribunal to look at his work was set up in 1947 at St Francis Xavier's Church in Dublin. The hearing of the evidence was finished in 1953 and the transcription of the proceedings of the process was completed in 1960. The ten volumes of evidence were signed, sealed and taken to Rome in the care of Mr Sean O'hEideia, Secretary of the Irish Embassy to the Holy See. The Italian version of the evidence was officially accepted by the Sacred Congregation in 1969, and in 1972 the wrings of the servant of God received approval from the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, an important step on the way.

In 1960 his remains were exhumed and transferred to St Francis Xavier's Church Upper Gardiner St, Dublin as part of the process of canonisation. The people of Kildare created their own monument to Father John Sullivan close to Clongowes Wood College. In June 2002, the findings of the Supplementary Tribunal of the Archdiocese of Dublin for the Cause of the Canonisation of the Servant of God were forwarded to the Holy See.

Legacy

A monthly mass is held for father John Sullivan at St Francis Xavier's Church in Gardiner St. As John Sullivan was a Protestant until middle age the Church of Ireland was an important part of his life. On 8th May 1983, 50 years since he died, the late Archbisop of the Church of Ireland, George Simms, gave the address at a memorial service to honour John Sullivan's life and work which was held in St Georges Church, Temple St. Dublin. The Catholic Bishop James Kavanagh attended conveying a text from Pope John Paul II. This message to Bishop Kavanagh said; "His Holiness asks you to convey his cordial greetings to all present. In communion of prayer he gives thanks to Almighty God for the extraordinary gifts bestowed on Fr Sullivan during his life and for the spirit of mutual understanding, reconciliation and goodwill which his memory enkindles between various christian communities in Ireland today. His Holiness prays that this service in St. George's Church where Fr Sullivan was first joined to Christ in baptism will bring spiritual joy and comfort to you all."

There is a constant demand for blessings with his vow crucifix, which is kept in St. Francis Xavier's, Gardiner Street, where Fr. John's earthly remains repose in the Sacred Heart Chapel. Many come to pray at his tomb. A website entitled 'Fr John Sullivan SJ - Memories, Petitions, Blessings and Thanksgiving' has been created by the parish. The aim of this initiative of the Parish Pastoral Council is to share this aspect of parish life in Gardiner Street with a wider audience and highlight the healing and many blessings received through intercession of Fr John Sullivan.

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