In its office at the archdiocese’s Pastoral Center in Braintree, the Archdiocese of Boston’s Pontifical Mission Society has numerous articles that serve as living reminders of the missionary spirit that has been a part of the archdiocese since its founding in 1808 -- among them, the desks of Cardinal Richard Cushing and Boston’s first bishop, Bishop Jean-Louis Lefebvre de Cheverus.

The director of the office, Father Thomas Kopp, works at Cardinal Cushing’s desk. Before he became archbishop, then-Father Cushing directed Boston’s Propagation of the Faith office. Bishop Cheverus was a missionary priest in North America who became Boston’s first bishop in 1808.

During the Mass celebrated at the cathedral to mark World Mission Sunday last month, the office honored the legacy of another pioneering missionary priest of the archdiocese, Father James Hennessy, by offering the Mass for him and displaying his articles.

More than just priestly artifacts, however, the chalice, ciborium, burse, and pix that are now on display in the archdiocesan mission office, are living reminders of a pioneering priest who died on mission he had long sought, even if that meant standing up to a cardinal.

Father Hennessey’s personal effects were received about 40 years ago by the office’s former director, Msgr. Andrew Connell, when a group of visitors from the Solomon Islands surprised him with a visit. They came bearing reminders of Father Hennessy, a well-respected and loved missionary priest who served in the Solomon Islands before being killed during World War II.

According to Msgr. Connell, Father Hennessy was the first Boston diocesan priest to serve as a foreign missionary.

The visit, according to Msgr. Connell, was indicative of Father Hennessy’s popularity with the Solomon Island’s natives.

“They were faithful to Father Jim. They loved Father Jim,” Msgr. Connell said. “He had become a part of them. They had devotion. They knew that he had hidden them.”

Msgr. Connell said that Father Hennessy buried the artifacts in his backyard in the islands because he did not want them to be taken by the Japanese and desecrated.

During this time, the United States and her allies were attempting to beat back Japanese aggression in the area.

According to Pilot file reports, Father Hennessy was born on Sept. 24, 1905 in North Cambridge. He studied at St. John’s Seminary and North American College in Rome before being ordained on Dec. 20, 1930 in Rome. Prior to his missionary work, he was an associate pastor at Immaculate Conception Parish in Malden from July to September, 1931 and then served for almost five years as an associate pastor at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.

While stationed at the cathedral, Father Hennessy approached the then-Father Richard Cushing, who would later become a cardinal and Archbishop of Boston, to volunteer to serve as a missionary, according to Msgr. Connell.

In response, according to Msgr. Connell, Father Cushing told the young priest that he could volunteer to assist the next bishop who came to the propagation office seeking a missionary. As it would turn out, that bishop was Bishop Thomas Wade, a Marist bishop of the North Solomon Islands.

Meanwhile, Father Hennessy had to get permission from Cardinal William O’Connell, then the Archbishop of Boston, to serve as a missionary.

“Most of the priests were afraid of him, and the people too,” said Msgr. Connell. “He was very strict.”

“He went and told him what he would like to do,” Msgr. Connell added. “The cardinal thought he was a little bit crazy. It was unheard of. No priest of the archdiocese went to a foreign mission.”

Cardinal O’Connell rejected Father Hennessy’s request. Father Hennessy then asked a second time, and got the same response from the cardinal, Msgr. Connell said.

“He didn’t forget,” Msgr. Connell said. “I guess he had a lot of courage.”

When Father Hennessy approached Cardinal O’Connell a third time, he relented.

“The cardinal was sort of exasperated with this young priest who had the audacity to pressure him, and he said, ‘Go, and your going will be a blessing to the archdiocese,’” Msgr. Connell said.

Msgr. Connell said that according to Bishop Wade, Cardinal O’Connell’s statement was vague; it was unclear if the cardinal meant Father Hennessy’s work was a blessing for the archdiocese or if the blessing was that Father Hennessy was going to leave the archdiocese.