World War One priest who studied in Offaly college honoured by English school

AN English Catholic school has honoured a candidate for sainthood who spent some of his younger years at the Jesuit College in Rahan.

Fr Willie Doyle was a Dublin-born priest who entered the Jesuits in Rahan in 1891 and following his ordination served as chaplain in the 16th Irish Division of the British Army.

He was killed on August 16, 1917 at the Battle of Passchendaele when he ran to assist a group of soldiers who got into trouble beyond the front line.

His canonisation cause was formally opened in the Diocese of Meath last year and is being promoted by the Father Willie Doyle Association.

The association has welcomed the decision of Ratcliffe College, Leicestershire, to name their new English Centre in honour of Fr Doyle.

The new building has been developed for the English department at Ratcliffe College and contains nine classrooms. It will be known as the Fr William Doyle English Centre.

Fr Doyle was a student at Ratcliffe College from 1884 until 1890 and and he is the first Old Ratcliffian to be formally proposed for sainthood.

Speaking at the official opening of the building, the president of the Father Willie Doyle Association, Dr Patrick Kenny, said: “The teenage years have a profound impact on all of us, and it is clear that Fr Doyle’s spirit and priestly ministry were shaped by his experience at Ratcliffe. Fr. Doyle was a prize-winning student and a very keen cricketer. It was at Ratcliffe that his decision to become a priest matured.  The College must have had a warm place in his heart. This is the very first building in the world to be named in Fr Doyle’s honour, and we are sure that Fr Doyle’s good humour, sincere holiness and selfless heroism will inspire future generations of students at Ratcliffe.”

As a sign of the association’s gratitude to Ratcliffe College, Fr John Hogan, the diocesan postulator for the cause of Fr Doyle, presented a small fragment of Fr Doyle’s military clothing to the College.

Commenting on the occasion, Jon Reddin, headmaster of Ratcliffe College, said the school was delighted to welcome the Irish guests and noted that Dr Kenny shared a little about Fr Doyle’s life as a boy at Ratcliffe College and about his ministry prior to and during the First World War.

“We are overwhelmed to receive a small fragment of Fr Doyle’s military clothing and will ensure this item is treasured at Ratcliffe College, inspiring many future generations for years to come,” said Mr Reddin.

“We are incredibly proud of this stunning building and would like to express our sincere thanks to everyone involved in the project as part of our Whole School Strategic Vision.”

Ratcliffe College is an independent Catholic school based in Leicestershire, England which welcomes all from ages 3 to 18 years. The school was established in the mid 19th century by the Institute of Charity, founded by Blessed Antonio Rosmini.

Dr Patrick Kenny edited To Raise the Fallen: A selection of the war letters, prayers and spiritual writings of Fr Willie Doyle SJ, published in Ireland by Veritas and in the United States by Ignatius Press.

Fr John Hogan is a priest of the Diocese of Meath, the co-host of EWTN’s TV series 'Forgotten Heritage' and the author of a recent biography of St Thomas Becket.

Willie Doyle was born in Dalkey, Co Dublin in 1873 and frequented the homes of the poor on Dalkey Hill, bringing them food and cleaning their houses.

Following secondary education at Rathcliffe College, he pursued his vocation to the priesthood and was received into the Society of Jesus on March 31, 1891 at St Stanislaus College, Tullabeg, Rahan.

Following his first profession on August 15, 1893 he served as prefect in Clongowes Wood College, Kildare and was a teacher in Belvedere College, Dublin. He undertook philosophical studies in Belgium and Stoneyhurst, England and theological studies at Milltown Park, Dublin.

He kept a diary during World War I and extracts have been published in the website williedoyle.org

At a special Mass announcing his canonisation cause, Bishop of Meath Thomas Deenihan said: “The heroic desire of Doyle to serve and promote God's kingdom found ultimate expression on the battlefield when he was ministering to soldiers, some of whom were Catholic, others Anglican. After bringing one to safety, he returned to the line of fire and was killed ministering to others.”