Document Type

Finding Aid

Collection Date

1655-2000

Finding Aid Date

9-17-2015

Identifier

RG 11.2 JamaicaSC: SC700, OsborneFJ

Description

All physical materials associated with the New England Province Archive are currently held by the Jesuit Archives in St. Louis, MO. Any inquiries about these materials should be directed to Jesuit Archives. Electronic versions of some items and the descriptions and finding aids to the Archives, which are hosted in CrossWorks, are provided only as a courtesy.

Francis J. Osborne, the son of William and Elizabeth (McCarthy) Osborne, was born in Everett, MA on November 24, 1903. He graduated from Everett High School in 1923 and while working he matriculated at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and also took additional language courses at Boston College High School to prepare for the Jesuit Novitiate. He entered the Society of Jesus on August 14, 1925 at Shadowbrook in Lenox, MA where he completed both his novitiate (1923-25) and juniorate (1925-29). In 1929, he entered Weston College to study philosophy, completing this in 1932. He then taught at Boston College High School until 1934 when he returned to Weston College for theological studies that he completed in 1938. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 20, 1937 at Weston College by Bishop Thomas A. Emmet, S.J. During 1938 and 1939, he did his tertianship at St. Robert’s Hall inPomfret,CT.

In 1939, he began 55 years of missionary work in Jamaica, West Indies, serving as pastor in several parishes throughout the island, and in the capitol city, Kingston. He also taught at St. George’sCollege. In addition, he researched the history of Jamaica and was an amateur archaeologist who carried out several excavations throughout Jamaica. He published numerous articles about the history and archaeology of Jamaica and was honored by the Governor General of Jamaica for his book the History of the Catholic Church in Jamaica. Health problems obliged him to return to Campion Center, the former Weston College, in Weston,MA in 1994 where he continued his writing until incapacitated by his illness. He died of a stroke on May 5, 1998 at Campion Center, Weston, MA and is buried in the Jesuit Cemetery there. He was 94 years old at the time of his death. He was a Jesuit for 72 years and a priest for 61.

The collection consists of biographical and personal materials, awards and medals, writings, the transcription of Edward D’Oyley’s Journal, research notes and materials, publications and photographs.

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