Willie Doyle

Who was Willie Doyle?

Father Willie Doyle, S.J., MC was an Irish Jesuit priest who was killed in action during World War I.

Doyle was a native of Dalkey, Ireland and the youngest of seven children. He was educated at Ratcliffe College, Leicester. He entered the Jesuit Novitiate at the age of 18 after reading St. Alphonsus’ book “Instructions and Consideration on the Religious State” and was an ordained Jesuit priest. Soon after his ordination in 1907, his superiors appointed him on the mission staff for five years. From 1908 to 1915, he gave no less than 152 missions and retreats. His fame as preacher, confessor and spiritual director spread wide and far, and he had "a special gift to hunt out the most hardened and neglected sinners and to bring them back with him to the church for confession". He served in the Army Chaplains' Department of the British Army during World War I. He was finally appointed during World War I chaplain of the 16th Irish Division. Having fulfilled his priestly duties in an outstanding fashion for almost two years, he was killed in the Battle of Passchendaele on 16 August 1917, having run “all day hither and thither over the battlefield like an angel of mercy.” This good shepherd truly gave his life for his sheep.