Société des Missions Africaines –Province d'Irlande

né le 20 juillet 1919 à Reavouler, Drinagh dans le diocèse de Ross, Irlande membre de la SMA le 2 juillet 1939 prêtre le 20 décembre 1942 décédé le 17 avril 1981

1943-1944 Cork, études supérieures 1945-1958 missionnaire au Nigeria 1945-1952, diocèse de Kaduna 1953-1958, diocèse de Jos 1959-1963 Ballinafad, collège, enseignant 1963-1965 missionnaire au Ghana, Bogoso 1965-1966 missionnaire en Egypte, Heliopolis 1966-1969 diocèse de Jos, Kafanchan, enseignant 1969-1975 Ballinafad collège, enseignant 1975-1979 Wilton, collège, enseignant 1979-1982 malade décédé à Dublin, Irlande, le 17 avril 1981, à l'âge de 62 ans

James Murphy was born at Reavouler, Drinagh, Co Cork, in the diocese of Ross, on 20 July 1919. He died in St. James's hospital, Dublin, on Good Friday, l7 April 198l.

James (Jim) studied for his intermediate certificate at the Sacred Heart college, Ballinafad, Co Mayo (1932 1934). He completed his secondary education at St. Joseph's college, Wilton, Cork (1934 1937), and then joined the Society's novitiate and house of philosophy, at Kilcolgan, Co Galway, in the autumn of 1937. Two years later, in 1939, he went to Dromantine, Co Down, for his theological formation. Between 1936 1937, while resident in Wilton, he had attended lectures in the U.C.C. arts faculty and, again, while resident at Kilcolgan, he had studied at U.C.G. He was awarded a B.A. degree in June 1939 (philosophy and education). Later, in 1944, he obtained a higher diploma in education, studying at U.C.C. Jim was received as a member of the Society on 2 July 1939 and was ordained a priest by Bishop Denis Moynihan of Ross diocese, at St. Patrick's cathedral, Skibbereen, on 20 December 1942. He was one of a group of five ordained on that day. Normally Society ordinations were held in St. Colman's cathedral, Newry. During the war, however, restrictions on the use of petrol would have made it impossible for families from the south to reach Newry. Hence the ordinations were held in three locations, in the seminary chapel at Dromantine, in the Sacred Heart chapel, Moyne Park, Tuam, and finally in Skibbereen.

Jim went to northern Nigeria, to the prefecture of Kaduna, in June 1945. This prefecture, which had been erected in 1934, was staffed by some 25 Irish missionaries, led by John McCarthy (later archbishop). The jurisdiction extended over much of north central Nigeria. Jim's first appointment was to Guni mission where Danny Watson was superior. Guni had a catechist training school, under the patronage of St. Theresa of the Child Jesus, and Jim was given charge of this institution. In June 1947 Jim supervised the transfer of the training school to Minna. In the following October Mgr. McCarthy decided to send Jim back to Ireland for a short rest as he had experienced poor health since his arrival in Kaduna. Although there was little improvement during his stay in Ireland, Jim insisted in returning to Nigeria in January 1949. He was aware that Mgr. McCarthy was about to open a boys secondary school in Kaduna and was counting on him to teach in the school. Indeed Mgr. McCarthy had already submitted his name (with two others) to the department of education, in order to obtain a vital state subsidy. Jim fulfilled all expectations, becoming a founding staff member of St. John's college, Kaduna, under the principalship of Jack O'Hara. In January 1952 he became principal of St. John's when Malachy Morris (Fr. O'Hara's successor) went on home leave.

In September 1952 Jim went to Ireland on leave. He returned to Nigeria on the M.V. Aureol in October 1953, taking up a new assignment in a neighbouring jurisdiction, the newly erected diocese of Jos. For the next five years he taught in Mary Immaculate college (C.M.I.) at Kafanchan, a teaching training college founded by Mgr. William Lumley in 1949, which supplied capable teachers for the many elementary schools in the jurisdiction. From 1956 he was principal of this important institution which, at the time, had a staff of five Fathers. In June 1958 Jim was invalided home and after a period of convalescence he took up a teaching appointment at Ballinafad, which was now a full secondary college. In 1963 Jim was assigned to Ghana where he was a tutor in the teacher training college at Bogoscu. Two years later Jim was assigned to Egypt, where Irish missionaries had conducted an educational apostolate since the turn of the century. In 1936 the Irish Province had accepted responsibility for staffing the 'English' schools of the vicariate of the Nile Delta and it was to one of these schools, St. George's college, 15 Sharia Qait Bai, Heliopolis, that Jim was posted. He found it difficult to settle and in January 1966 obtained permission to return to Jos diocese where he resumed his work in the Kafanchan teacher training college. Jim suffered increasingly from ill health during these years. In September 1969, no longer fit for the tropics, he took up a post on the teaching staff at Ballinafad. In September 1975 he retired from teaching and became confessor to the students at Wilton, the location of the Province's 'spiritual year' or novitiate for aspirants.

Jim was invalided in 1979 and died two year later. He had been a priest for 39 years. Clever, witty, and cultivated, he was recognised within the Society and in the wider community as an exemplary priest and a true gentleman who spread love and cheerfulness wherever he went. His students always held him in the highest esteem. He is remembered as a man who never spoke ill of another, who seemed to have unlimited patience with even the most difficult people. He did not enjoy good health during his life time and especially the last five years, but bore his suffering without complaining. Jim was a brother of Sister Bonaventure O.L.A. and nephew of Stephen and Peter Harrington, both members of the Society, and of Sr. Celerine O.L.A.

He is buried in Wilton cemetery.