Records Relating to Rev. Jeremiah Purtill, Supe... | Saint Michael's College Archives & Special Collections

Fr Purtill’s third term of office continued in much the same vein as the second. Purtill continued to enhance the existing apostolates, developing strong connections in the South, England and Quebec and maintaining the parishes and work in France and in Vermont. The formation program continued to develop as well during this term, and the number of novices grew, as did places of education and a development program for the Society. The only major apostolate to close was Cardinal Mindszenty High School. However, Cardinal Mindszenty was closed to develop two different and new apostolates. One, building a minor seminary in Allentown Pennsylvania, never came to fruition, although the Edmundites did purchase land and get fairly far in developing the idea. The second was quite successful, however. This was the expansion of the Edmundites to Caracas, Venezuela. In answer to Pope John XXIII’s call for priests in Latin America, the Society of Saint Edmund established an apostolate in Caracas in January 1964. Purtill finished off his term of office on this strong note, and went on to serve many more years in a number of different leadership roles in the Society. The bulk of this subgroup is correspondence, which is arranged alphabetically by correspondent/office. The series also includes correspondence from the South, which is further subdivided by correspondent/office. Correspondence included in the South sub-series is that which accumulated in the Superior General’s Office. Most originated in the South, although copies of outgoing mail are sometimes included. Correspondence with other local administrations is located with the Local Administration record group. Another large series is the Allentown Subject series. This includes a great deal of information related to the establishment and details of purchasing land for this minor seminary.