Société des Missions Africaines –Province d'Irlande

né le 23 juillet 1909 à Knockans dans le diocèse de Down & Connor, Irlande membre de la SMA le 2 juillet 1931 prêtre le 21 décembre 1934 décédé le 7 janvier 1985

1935-1942 missionnaire au Nigeria, vicariat du Bénin 1942-1946 aumônier militaire 1947-1976 missionnaire au Nigeria 1947-1948, vicariat de Lagos 1948-1976, diocèse de Ondo 1976-1985 diocèse de Down & Connor décédé à Ballymoney, Irlande, le 7 janvier 1985, à l'âge de 75 ans

James McAfee was born at Knockans, Dunloy, Ballymoney, Co Antrim, in the diocese of Down and Connor, on 23 July 1909. He died in the Robinson hospital, Ballymoney, Co Antrim, on 7 January 1985.

James began his secondary education at the High school, Ballymoney. He then decided to become a missionary priest and continued his education first, at the Sacred Heart college, Ballinafad, Co Mayo, and then at St. Joseph's college, Wilton, Cork. In 1929 he entered the Society's novitiate and house of philosophy, at Kilcolgan, Co Galway, commencing his theological studies in the seminary at Dromantine, Co Down, in 1931. James became a member of the Society on 2 July 1931, and was ordained a priest, along with eleven colleagues, in St. Colman's cathedral, Newry, on 21 December 1934. The ordaining prelate was Bishop Edward Mulhern of Dromore diocese.

James served in the vicariate of Benin, in south western Nigeria, between 1935-1942. His first appointment was to Ondo mission, situated in the north-west of the vicariate, an area in which the Church was still in its infancy. Between May 1941-June 1942 James was attached to the staff of St. Theresa's minor seminary, at Oke Are, Ibadan. With the outbreak of the world war there was a call for chaplains to serve with the West African Division. James volunteered in 1942 and saw service with the Division in Burma, Mandalay and Egypt. After the war, in 1947, James resumed his work in the Benin vicariate (now the diocese of Lagos), taking up an assignment at Holy Cross cathedral parish. Two years later, as part of the preparations for the erection of the Ondo region into a diocese, James was nominated to the staff of the new jurisdiction. Bishop Thomas Hughes, first bishop of Ondo, appointed James as parish priest of Ado Ekiti district (now a diocese).

In 1955 he was placed in charge of Oka district. James was to serve in Ondo diocese until 1976, playing a key role in building up a strong local Church in that region. His work in providing education and health services not only made a vital contribution to the Church but also to the progress of the country and helped further its national independence. Two years before he retired from the diocese James had the joy of witnessing one of the African priests, Francis Folorunso Alonge, elevated to the episcopacy. In the year of James' retirement from Africa (1976), Francis Alonge succeeded Bishop William Field as bishop of the diocese. It was only fitting that James should end his mission service in the parish of Ondo where he had begun some forty-one years earlier. Before leaving he was honoured by His Highness Oba Itiade Adekolurejo, the Oshemawe of Ondo with a chieftaincy title of Obayenmiwa - this signified the praise of the Oba (King) for his character and good work.

When James returned to Ireland he took up an assignment in his diocese of origin. He ministered as curate in the parish of Kilmore, Crossgar, Co Down (the Holy Family church), until the onset of his final illness in August 1984. James was a cousin of the late Bishop Hugh Boyle of Johannesburg, and a brother of Sister Mary Mark of the Assumption Sisters, Ballinahinch, Co Down.

He is buried in Wilton cemetery.