We look back many decades in an article researched and written by Fr. Basil Babatunde Soyoye, SMA a Nigerian SMA Missionary who is now based in Castelnaudary, France, the home parish of the SMA Founder, the Venerable Melchior de Marion Brésillac.
Fr Basil tells us about an Irish SMA that unlike most people today, who worry about the cost of living, was concerned rather with the cost of dying.
Edward Peter Bermingham was born in Kilcolgan, Co Galway, in the parish of Ballinderreen, on 19 May 1916. The first child born to his parents, young Edward was raised in the shadow of the Society of African Missions’ (SMA) spiritual year and of philosophy communities, at Cloughballymore, Kilcolgan in Galway, on the west coast of the Republic of Ireland. From his early age, he displayed exceptional literary gifts.
At the age of thirteen, he entered the SMA preparatory College in Ballinafad, County Mayo in the West of the Republic of Ireland, to begin his formation to the priesthood. Between 1930 1933, he continued his formation at SMA St. Joseph’s College, Wilton, Cork. The SMA Head Quarters in Ireland is also in Cork. It is in Cork that Edward had his spiritual year and studied philosophy. He took his Permanent Oath of membership in the SMA on 30 June 1935. He afterwards proceeded to the theological seminary, at the SMA House Dromantine, Co Down, in the North of Ireland. He was ordained a priest by Bishop Edward Mulhern of Dromore Diocese, at St. Colman’s Cathedral, Newry in the North of Ireland, on 18 December 1938. He was one of the eleven priests ordained on that day.
After ordination Fr. Edward returned to Dromantine for six months to complete his theology course. Early in 1939, he was appointed to the Vicariate of Bight of Benin, in what was then referred to as South Western Nigeria. In 1943, the jurisdiction was renamed the ‘Vicariate of Lagos’ and, in 1950, with the erection of an indigenous hierarchy, the Vicariate of Lagos was raised to become the ‘Archdiocese of Lagos’. Fr. Edward’s first posting, given to him by Philip Corish, the Pro Vicar (Bishop, Francis O’Rourke, had died in 1938) was to Abeokuta, where he learned Yoruba and prepared for his ‘canonical’ examination. He also undertook supervised pastoral work while he was in Abeokuta. After four months he passed his canonical examination and, having also reached the requisite standard in Yoruba, he received faculties to hear confessions. Fr. Edward remained in Abeokuta until July 1940 when Bishop Leo Hale Taylor, who had been nominated Vicar Apostolic in June 1939, appointed him to Ijebu Ode.
Three months later, when the editorial chair of the Nigerian Catholic Herald became vacant, Fr. Edward was the obvious choice. Printed by the Vicariate’s St. Paul’s Press, the Herald had been founded in 1924 by Bishop Ferdinand Terrien as a monthly. For many years it was the sole organ of public information and opinion for the Catholic Church throughout Nigeria. From a monthly it appeared fortnightly and then weekly. Residing first at Ebuta Metta and then at Yaba, (and contributing to the pastoral life in both missions) Fr. Edward infused new life into this paper. He also set up a book shop and printing press for Catholic publications.
In December 1952 Fr. Edward was rushed to Ireland with a serious heart disease. On examination he was informed by the doctors that he had only a year to live. His last concerns were for Archbishop Taylor and for the expense his illness was causing the mission in Lagos. It is said that he put his thoughts into words in a most poignant letter published (anonymously) in The Catholic Herald under the title: ‘The Cost of Dying’. ‘I am dying…!
“When I got sick nine months ago I had just completed 13 years missionary work in the tropics. In the good old pioneer days, I would have been allowed to die quietly and inexpensively. But in this era of the stratosphere when stethoscopes are only a matter of hours away, dying is made difficult… This tablet (medicine), that tablet and the other tablet must be experimented with in an effort to find something which will give strength to a weak heart while not irritating a rebellious stomach. And so, while the cost of living never worried me, I am now positively worried with the cost of dying. Somewhere in the tropics a 
“poor Bishop” paid (lots of money) to get me home… I think I would die happy if somewhere could be found a kind benefactor who would invest something in my cost of dying. I can only promise two things in return. Firstly, a speedy intercession for my kind benefactor in Heaven when I get there. Secondly, in the event of my being still alive when any donation is made, I would write a personal note of gratitude”.
In March 1953 Edward entered St. Bride’s nursing home, at Sea Road, Galway. He appeared to grow stronger and for a while his superiors discussed the possibility of appointing him to Kilcolgan, Galway. After his discharge from the nursing home he went to live with his sister at ‘The Quay’, Kinvara, Co Galway. However in August 1953 he suffered another attack and was hospitalised. Fr. Edward died on 9 September 1953 at Seamount Nursing Home, in the presence of his father and of Fr. Patrick Gantly SMA, then superior of the Spiritual Year at Kilcolgan. After his death The Catholic Herald revealed details of Edward’s identity and the Society received many gifts in his memory. It might be interesting to mention that Fr. Edward’s sister, Josephine, joined the Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles (OLA), taking the name Sr. Christopher.
Fr. Edward Bermingham is buried in the SMA Wilton cemetery in Ireland.
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