Société des Missions Africaines - Province d'Irlande

né le 23 mars 1937 dans l'archidiocèse de Dublin membre de la SMA le 24 juin 1956 prêtre le 21 décembre 1962 décédé le 4 août 2009

1963-1971 archidiocèse de Lagos, Nigeria 1971-1972 Maynooth, études 1972-1991 archidiocèse de Lagos, Nigeria 1991-1997 Maynooth, directeur des études 1997-2009 Blackrock Road, retiré décédé à Cork, le 4 août 2009, à l’âge de 72 ans

James Joseph O’Connell was born at 227 Vernon Avenue (‘Béal-na-Bláth’), in the parish of Killester, in the archdiocese of Dublin, on 23 March 1937.
He died in St. Theresa’s nursing unit, Society of African Missions, Blackrock Road, Cork, on 4 August 2009. He was aged 72 years.

James (Jimmy) O’Connell was the sixth of seven children (five boys and two girls) born to Seán and Helena (nee Sandvoss) O’Connell. Seán O’Connell, originally hailing from Knockhogan, (Doora) Ennis, Co Clare, was a close colleague of Michael Collins. During the war of Independence, from his position as a clerk in the Great Southern and Western Railway, he organised the intelligence links with the Southern Brigades. He served as an officer in the Second Battalion of the Dublin Brigade, was a member of Collins’ ‘Squad’, and later was on the G.H.Q. Intelligence staff. He was with Michael Collins on the ill-fated convoy to West Cork and by his side when Collins was shot at Beal-na-Blath. It is reliably said that he whispered an ‘Act of Contrition’ into the fallen leader’s ear. He was a founding member of the Irish army and was A.D.C. to the first Governor-General of the Irish Free State.

Jimmy’s maternal grandfather came to Ireland from Müenster, in Germany, c. 1870. His first cousin, Fr. Noel Sandvoss, was on the staff of St. Kieran’s College, Kilkenny. Another first cousin was Sister Mary Winifrede, a member of the Mercy order ministering in England. Jimmy was baptised on 3rd April 1937 in St. Brigid’s church, Killester. He received his primary education at Belgrove National School, Clontarf and, from 1945, at the renowned Christian Brothers, O’Connell Schools. In 1949 he commenced his secondary education at O’Connell’s obtaining his leaving certificate in 1955. While at O’Connell’s, his prowess as a sportsman emerged and he played in goal for both his school’s senior hurling team, and Dublin’s minor hurling team.

In the autumn of 1955 Jimmy entered the Society’s novitiate at Kilcolgan, Co Galway. His decision followed a talk given to his class by an S.M.A. priest about the missionary vocation. A year later, his ‘Spiritual Year’ completed, he went to St. Joseph’s College, Wilton, Cork, from which he attended University College Cork. In June 1959 he was awarded an honours B.A. degree. (Many years later, in 1972, he received a Higher Diploma in Education, taking his course in St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth. While at Maynooth he also undertook a renewal course in the Department of Mission Studies). Jimmy entered the Society’s major seminary, at Dromantine, Newry, Co Down, in September 1959. He was first received as a member of the Society on 24 June 1956. He became a permanent member on 12 June 1962 and was ordained a priest by Bishop Eugene O’Doherty of Dromore diocese, in St. Colman’s cathedral, Newry, on 21 December 1962. Jimmy was one of a group thirteen ordained on that occasion.
Following the completion of his studies, Jimmy was appointed to Nigeria to work in the Archdiocese of Lagos where he was to remain on missionary assignment until 1991. He first arrived in Nigeria on 11th October 1963. In all he was to undertake sixteen tours of duty, mostly of two years duration. His first assignment was to the staff of St. Gregory’s College, Lagos, Nigeria’s first Catholic secondary school, founded in 1928. He was to spend some of his later years as teacher and chaplain in St Finbarr's College, Akoka and Nazareth College, Ibonwon, but it was at St Gregory's that he was most renowned. Ever the sportsman, he was involved in promoting and coaching the college's cricket, football and athletics teams. A talented singer, under his direction the students presented a number of musical productions including Jesus Christ, Superstar and the famous South African musical Ipi Tombi.
After many fruitful years in the education apostolate Jimmy expressed a wish to engage in parochial ministry, preferably in an area where the Church was just beginning to develop. This was granted in the early 1980’s when he was assigned to a rural area called Ajilete, where Catholics amounted to a very small percentage of the population, just 4,000 out of 200,000. The parish, named after St. Michael, was about thirty-five miles long and as the roads were un-tarred, Jimmy acquired a strong, open kit car to get to the twenty-five outstations. Most of the people in the area belonged to small, local, independent churches or sects. His fluency in Yoruba was a great asset in this ministry. Within Society structures, Jimmy served as Deputy Society Superior of his confreres in the Archdiocese between 1987-1989.
In August 1991 Jimmy was appointed to S.M.A. House, Maynooth, as Director of Students. In this capacity he ministered to students preparing for S.M.A. missionary priesthood, a task he greatly enjoyed and for which he showed a notable aptitude. However some six years later he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and, with the progression of the illness, was soon compelled to transfer to S.M.A House, Blackrock Road, Cork where medical and nursing care was close at hand. Over the next twelve years his condition continued to deteriorate and he had little respite. He spent his last years in St. Teresa’s Nursing Unit.
Jimmy’s determination and commitment to values and people were evident in all his missionary work, with staff, students and parishioners. He brought exceptional energy to his work. He had a natural affinity for working with younger people but this did not exclude a much respected sympathy with older generations. He was also reflective about the quality and nature of missionary work and took an active part in commissions set up to evaluate missionary policy and formation programs. His leadership qualities were shown in many ways – in his school work, in the parochial ministry, and in his capacity as Deputy Society Superior in Lagos. All these qualities came into play when he was struck down by a long and lingering illness. He was determined to fight his illness and live life to the full despite the limitations imposed on him. He availed of developing treatments and was not disheartened when the results were not always positive. Very deliberately and with great courage he continued to be involved in life beyond his illness. He refused to allow his frequent periods of hospitalisation interfere with his activities. Physically he kept active, enjoying a game of golf with other confreres, and competing year after year in the annual S.M.A. golf tournament until he could no longer play. He read widely and corresponded extensively. He wrote frequently to the newspapers and in journals on social, ecclesiastical and missionary topics. He had an interest in Ecology and reflected deeply on its spiritual dimension, which he encapsulated in an article, published in the journal Spirituality (Vol. 8, January-February 2002, No 40), titled ‘A Spirituality That Includes the Earth’. Another interesting article published in the ‘Rite and Reason’ section of the Irish Times (6th February 2004), was titled ‘Life is a mystery to be lived’, and reflected on the value of Lectio Divina (Sacred Reading) as a means of getting in contact with the person of Jesus Christ. He greatly enjoyed visits of family members and maintained a wide circle of friends, largely through correspondence, although over the years many came to visit him from all corners of the globe. He played a leading role in introducing the Lectio Divina to the Blackrock Road community and parish, and remained active in that group until the last months of his life. He also contributed to the community liturgy, making available his gift for music through the provision of liturgical tapes and C.D.’s.
Jimmy was predeceased by his brother Seán and his sister, Eileen. He was mourned by his brothers, Brian, Louis and Mícheál, by his sister, Helen (Murray), by many relatives and friends, by his confreres in the Society of African Missions and by the people, priests and religious of Lagos Archdiocese.
Jimmy’s requiem Mass took place on Thursday 6 August at 12 noon and was led by John Dunne SMA, Vice-Provincial. Among the concelebrants were Bishop John Moore SMA, Bishop of Bauchi, Nigeria, (who some months later went to his own eternal reward), Mgr Christopher Boyo, representing the Archdiocese of Lagos, Seán Lynch SMA (Classmate) and Edward Hartnett SMA (co-worker in Lagos Archdiocese), as well as a large number of SMA priests and a representative of St Patrick's Missionary Society. The congregation included a large circle of family and friends, Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles, Mercy Sisters, members of CASA, a representative of the St Gregory's College Old Boys Association and former co-workers in Nigeria.
He is buried in the S.M.A. cemetery at Wilton, Cork.