Société des Missions Africaines – Province d ‘Irlande

né le 6 janvier 1906 à Belfast dans le diocèse de Down & Connor, Irlande membre de la SMA le 27 octobre 1928 prêtre le 7 juin 1931 décédé le 28 avril 1955

1931-1942 Nigeria occidentale 1943-1951 Asaba, Nigeria 1951-1953 Blackrock Road, Cork, malade 1954-1955 diocèse de Saginaw, USA décédé à Saginaw, USA, le 28 avril 1955, à l’âge de 49 ans

le père James Joseph RAFFERTY (1906 - 1955)

A Saginaw (USA), le 28 avril 1955, retour à Dieu du père James Rafferty, à l'âge de 49 ans.

James Rafferty naquit dans le diocèse de Down & Connor (Irlande), à Belfast, en 1906. Il fit ses études dans les maisons de la Société, fit le serment en 1928 et fut ordonné prêtre le 7 juin 1931. Le père Rafferty travailla pendant 20 ans au vicariat de la Nigeria Occidentale. Revenu bien fatigué en 1951, il passa quelque temps en Irlande et gagna les Etats-Unis, où il se mit à la disposition de l'évêque de Saginaw en 1853.

Father James Joseph G. RAFFERTY (1906 - 1955)

James Rafferty was born in St. Paul's parish, Belfast (the family address was 45 Waterville Street), in the diocese of Down and Connor, on 6 January 1906. He died at Saginaw, Michigan, U.S.A., on 28 April 1955.

James (Jimmy) studied at the Sacred Heart college, Ballinafad, Co Mayo (192l 1922), and St. Joseph's college, Wilton, Cork (1922 1925), before joining the Society's novitiate and house of philosophy, at Kilcolgan, Co Galway, in the autumn of 1925. He studied theology in the Society's seminary at Cours Gambetta, Lyon, France, from 1927 193l and was received as a member of the Society there on 27 October 1928. Jimmy was ordained a priest by Bishop Edward Mulhern of Dromore diocese, at St. Colman's cathedral, Newry, Co Down, on 7 June 193l. He was one of a group of twelve ordained on that day.

After ordination Jimmy was appointed to the vicariate of Western Nigeria, which was the first mission entrusted to the Irish Province in Nigeria when Thomas Broderick was appointed vicar apostolic in 1918. On Jimmy's arrival he was appointed to Lokoja district, where Patrick O'Connell was superior. Lokoja was the oldest mission in the vicariate founded in 1884. In 1888, however, it had been closed when the missionaries crossed the Niger river to Asaba which became the new headquarters of the jurisdiction. Lokoja was reopened in 1906. Jimmy spent six months there, studying the Igbo language, learning about African culture and learning, too, about pastoral method. This was his tyrocinium, or period of induction to the missionary life. Jimmy's first substantive appointment was to Agenebode district where Tom Greene was superior. After six months he returned to Lokoja district where he was to spend the next two years, ministering in the principal stations of Lokoja, Okene, Kabba and Oka.

Jimmy came to Nigeria at a time when the educational apostolate was rapidly expanding, when every station and outstation was clamouring for its own school. In his early placements Jimmy showed a particular aptitude for the educational apostolate. Early in 1934 Leo Hale Taylor, who had just succeeded Bishop Broderick as vicar apostolic, appointed Jimmy to St. Thomas' teaching training college, at Ibusa. This institution had been founded in 1928 in order to supply the growing network of elementary schools with capable teachers. John Heaney was principal when Jimmy came on the staff. The other priest members of staff were Charles Canavan and Joseph Donaghy. There were some 60 students in training.

After Jimmy returned from his first home leave, in December 1936, he was re assigned to Ibusa, as vice principal. A year later he was transferred to Ubiaja district (Ishan country), which comprised the principal stations of Ubiaja, Ukoni (near Uromi) and Agenebode. Jimmy lived at Ubiaja, with John Mahon, the district superior, taking charge of the schools of the district. During this second tour of duty, Jimmy also served, for periods, in Benin City and in the district of Ogwashi Uku. Jimmy went on home leave in March 1943. His return journey to Nigeria, in July 1943, almost ended in disaster. He travelled on the ill fated liner troopship S.S. California, which was bombed four days out to sea, with considerable loss of life. Rescued by the corvette, Moyola, Jimmy and the other missionaries on board, disembarked at Casablanca, having lost all their equipment and clothing. There is a photograph in the Provincial archives at Blackrock of Jimmy and fourteen other survivors dressed in the uniforms of American servicemen. Jimmy was to serve in western Nigeria for a further eight years, during which (in 1950) the vicariate became the diocese of Benin City. He was appointed first to St. John Bosco's teacher training college, Ubiaja. In 1945 Jimmy's competence in educational matters received recognition when his bishop, Patrick J. Kelly, nominated him supervisor of schools for the jurisdiction, a post which was salaried by the government and provided for in the Education Act. It involved the supervision of all the Catholic schools in the vicariate, the appointment of principals and teachers, the control of academic standards and the maintenance of the physical plant. In every respect Jimmy proved an able and esteemed administrator.

Ill health forced Jimmy to return to Ireland in 195l. Duodenal ulcers were diagnosed and he spent some months in hospital before going home to Belfast to convalesce. In January 1953 he took up a post in the Province's headquarters at Blackrock Road, Cork, where he worked in the promotion office. In August 1954, hoping that the climate would restore his health, Jimmy went to the U.S.A. (where he had two sisters and a brother) to minister in St. Helen's parish, Saginaw. He served there until the time of his death which followed surgery in St. Mary's hospital, Saginaw. His funeral Mass was celebrated in St. Helen's church by Bishop Stephen Woznicki of Saginaw.

He is buried in Mount Olivet cemetery, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A.