Rev. Fr. Seán Francis Byron

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Ballina Library

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Main St. Blackrock, Co. Dublin

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Onitsha 2015 by Nwabu2010

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California Bay Area Map

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Ballina, Co. Mayo

Provincial Superior

This priest served in California, Canada.  He ministered in Biafra during its famine.

Séan Francis Byron was born in Ballina, Co. Mayo on 29^th January 1930.

Education

Following studies at the local national school.  He then studied for a two-year commerce course.

Further Studies

Fr. Byron studied further in Kimmage also U C D where he secured an Honours BA in 1955.  He attained an H.Dip.in Education during 1957.

Employment

Séan Francis Byron was employed in office duties for a further two years.  During 1949 Séan Byron entered the Juniorate at Blackrock College.

Novitiate

Séan Byron entered the Novitiate in Kilshane, Co. Tipperary during 1951.  Following his Profession. He prefected at Blackrock from 1955 – 19 57.   He studied Theology at Kimmage.

Ordination

Fr. Séan Byron’s ordination occurred during 1960.

Teacher

He was appointed the following year to Onitsha where he taught in Abbot College in Ahiala.  He served as Vice-Principal there for three years.  He taught at All Hallows Junior Seminary in Onitsha for three years.  He also taught for a brief period in St Michael’s Secondary School, Nimo, Awka.

Counselling

During 1967 he went to California for a two years counselling course. Fr. Séan Byron was also engaged in pastoral ministry during his studies.

Foreign Ministry

Fr. Séan Byron returned to the Onitsha Archdiocese during the Biafra War.  He was stationed at Nnewi where as pastor he provided relief to the starving population.  Three months following the wars ending he was deported from Nigeria during March 1970.

Lecturer

For five years Fr. Byron lectured at the Mount Oliver Centre in Dundalk also at Kimmage Manor.

Canada

Fr. Byron was transferred to the Province of Trans-Canada during 1971 where he served as university chaplain in Hamilton, Ontario.  He later managed Laval House in Toronto.

Provincial Superior

He served as provincial superior of Trans-Canada from 1990 to 1993.

Africa

Fr. Byron was invited back to Nigeria in 1984 to preach the annual retreat for the congregation’s members.  During the month he spent there he had the consolation of finding that the Nigerian people had the fondest memories of the Irish missionaries who had worked in their midst.

Demise

Fr. Séan Byron’s demise occurred on 15^th June 1997 following surgery.  He was aged sixty-seven.

Source

PDF http://www.spiritan.ie/oldSite/irish_spiritans_remembered.pdf