Société des Missions Africaines –Province d'Irlande

né le 12 juin 1913 à Lurgan dans le diocèse de Dromore, Irlande membre de la SMA le 1er juillet 1934 prêtre le 19 décembre 1937 décédé le 2 juin 1980

1938-1965 missionnaire en Egypte 1965-1966 Blackrock Road, Cork 1966-1969 Allerton Park 1969-1970 diocèse de Nottingham, travail pastoral 1970 M.I.L. chargé de cours 1974-1980 diocèse d’Armagh, travail pastoral décédé à Lurgan, Irlande, le 2 juin 1980, à l'âge de 67 ans

John Murtagh was born in Lurgan, Co Down (the family address was 19 Edward Street), in the diocese of Dromore, on 12 June 1913. He died in his sister's home at Lurgan, Co Down, on 2 June 1980.

John (Jack) studied in the diocesan seminary, at Violet Hill, Newry, from 1925 1929 and then with the Christian Brothers in Belfast (1929 30). He came to the Society's novitiate and house of philosophy, at Kilcolgan, Co Galway, in the autumn of 1932 and two years later, on 1 July 1934, he was admitted to membership of the Society. He studied theology in the Society's seminary at Dromantine, Co Down and was ordained a priest by Bishop Edward Mulhern of Dromore diocese, at St. Colman's cathedral, Newry, on 19 December 1937. He was one of a group of fifteen ordained on that day.

After ordination John returned to Dromantine to complete his theology course. He was then appointed to Rome to study scripture, commencing his studies in October 1938. After five months, however, he had to abandon his studies because of indifferent health. In April 1939 he went to the vicariate of the Nile Delta, in Egypt, where the Province had assumed responsibility for the 'English-language' schools since 1936. John was appointed to St. George's college, Choubra (8 Midal El-Afdal). He joined a staff led by John Lupton, and which included Fathers Christal, Donoghue, Canavan and Cashman. In October 1943 John was appointed headmaster at the Copt catholic boys school, Rue Malek et Kamel, Mansourah (Mansura). In August 1945 John went on home leave. He returned to Eygpt in September 1946, taking up a post as director of students in St. Austin's college (St. Augustine's), 3 Sharia Boutros Pasha Ghali, Heliopolis, Cairo. This school, which had about 170 pupils preparing for the 'Standard London Matriculation', was under the principalship of Henry Baker.

In March 1951 John went to work in the diocese of Nottingham, with a view to incardination. Seven months later, however, having changed his mind and deciding to remain in the Society, he returned to Egypt. In June 1950, while John had been on leave in Ireland, St. Austin's school and St. George's college were amalgamated and transferred to a fine new building at 15 Sharia Qait Bai, in modern Heliopolis. On his return to Egypt John was appointed to the staff of the new college, called St. George's, which had almost 400 students. He remained there until June 1965, teaching English, French and Christian Doctrine. He also supervised the teachers' work in the junior school attached to St. George's and, for a time, acted as college bursar. John was principal of the college from August 1958 until May 1965, when he was succeeded by Owen Maginn. John was in Egypt during the Suez war of 1956. The school was temporarily disrupted, but quickly resumed. There was one important change however; before the war students prepared for the G.C.E. examination of the British universities; after the war the examination taken was set by the Egyptian department of education. During the years the Society staffed St. George's, the college won a reputation for the excellence of its tuition and the high standards achieved in examinations.

Early in his ministry in Egypt (1942) John had considered joining the Jesuits in Syria. The idea of becoming a Jesuit had been with him even during his student days. Although he received authorisation from his superiors, he did not pursue the matter any further and settled into the missionary life. Part of the reason for wanting to join the Jesuits was the order's reputation for scholarship; for John was by temperament a scholar. After a year in Egypt he had requested permission to return to Rome to continue his study of scripture, but this could not be granted because of the world war. During his many years in Egypt, as a result of a deep study of Egyptian culture (Arabic as well as Coptic and Orthodox), he acquired within the Society and further afield a reputation as a distinguished Egyptologist. His articles and lectures on this and allied subjects were of the highest quality. During these years too he received permission to celebrate Mass according to the Coptic rite. John was also a good administrator. Among his achievements was the acquisition of the Armenian school in Heliopolis which became the primary section of St. George's college.

In the mid-1960's John's health deteriorated and this necessitated his return to Europe. There followed three years (1966 1969) teaching scripture at the seminary of the British Province of the Society at Allerton Park, Yorkshire. During 1969 70 he was a curate in Nottingham diocese and from 1970 he served as a lecturer at the missionary institute, London. From 1974 he was engaged in pastoral ministry in the archdiocese of Armagh, serving in the parish of Sixmilecross. A plaque to his memory is to be found in this parish. During his years in England John became a member of the British Province of the Society. Within the Society John is remembered as a man of intellect and scholarship, with an uncompromising commitment to inculturating the Gospel.

He is buried in the family plot in Lurgan, Co Down.