Joseph is the son of William Tinneny and Mary Ellen McShane of Belturbet, County Cavan, Ireland.  He was born and raised in England.  He served in the Royal Air Force during World War II and following the War he entered the seminary and became a Catholic priest in the Franciscan Order.  Joe went to India following his ordination in 1951 and only left there on 2 or 3 occassions.   As of 2002 he remains a very active missionsary and  is the last European Franciscan in India.  With him in the above photo taken in 1999 is his Bishop Joseph D'Silva the Bishop of Bellery, India.