JESUITICA: a foreign boss

This month marks the 150th birthday of the Irish Jesuit Province, its corporate coming of age. Before 1860 it was a vice-province, and before 1829 a mission. In 1836 the energetic Dutch General, John Roothaan, pictured here, scolded Peter Kenney, the Irish Provincial, for not writing regular Latin letters to Rome. “Woe to those members who act as though they are cut off from their head”, he thundered, threatening to incorporate Ireland into the English Province if Peter did not communicate better. A dire threat: Provincial status was – and is! – something to be treasured.