Société des Missions Africaines –Province d'Irlande

né le 1er juillet 1923 à Cork dans le diocèse de Cork, Irlande engagement permanent le 16 juin 1947 prêtre le 13 juin 1948 décédé le 30 août 1994

1949-1972 archidiocèse de Lagos, Nigeria 1973-1976 diocèse de Leeds, Angleterre 1976-1981 rattaché à la Province de Grande-Bretagne 1981-1983 aumônier militaire 1983-1984 diocèse de Plymouth, Angleterre 1984-1994 aumônier militaire décédé à Los Angeles, USA, le 30 août 1994, à l'âge de 71 ans

James Morrison was born in Cork (the family address was 87 Barrack Street, Cork) in the parish of St. Finbarr's South, on 1 July 1923. He died in Tarazana hospital, Los Angeles, U.S.A., on 30 August 1994.

James (Jimmy) received his secondary education in the houses of the Society. He studied in the Sacred Heart college, Ballinafad, Co Mayo (1936 1939) and St. Joseph's college, Wilton, Cork, (1939 1941), before entering the Society's novitiate and house of philosophy, at Kilcolgan, Co Galway. In September 1944 he began his theological studies in the Society's seminary, at Dromantine, Co Down. During his last year at Wilton Jimmy attended lectures at U.C.C. and, in the following two years while at Kilcolgan, he completed his degree course at U.C.G. In the autumn of 1944 he was awarded a B.A. arts degree (philosophy and education). Jimmy was received as a member of the Society on 2 July 1944 and he was ordained a priest by Bishop Eugene O'Doherty of Dromore, in St. Colman's cathedral, Newry, Co Down, on 13 June 1948. He was one of a group of fourteen ordained on that day.

After ordination Jimmy returned to U.C.C. where he studied for the higher diploma in education (1948 1949). During this year he lived in the Society's house at Blackrock Road. In 1949 Jimmy was assigned to Lagos vicariate, in south western Nigeria, taking up his post in November of that year. His first appointment was to Holy Cross cathedral parish in Lagos city, where he served with Richard Fitzgerald and two Nigerian priests: Lawrence Layode and John Aggey (later archbishop of Lagos). After six months Jimmy was posted to the renowned St. Gregory's college, Ikoyi, Lagos, the first catholic secondary school in Nigeria, founded in 1928. He joined a staff led by John Mackle and which included John McAndrew and Frank McGovern, as well as fourteen African masters. There were some 320 pupils in the college, preparing for the West African school certificate. Jimmy not only taught class he excelled in the teaching of English but took a keen interest in the sporting activities of the students. In November 1952 Jimmy was invalided to Europe with a 'detached retina' and after successful surgery at the Royal Westminster Eye hospital, London, he took up an appointment on the teaching staff of the Sacred Heart college, Ballinafad.

In April 1954 Jimmy returned to Nigeria, taking up an appointment in St. Leo's higher elementary training college, Ibara, Abeokuta, where were some 320 young men training to become teachers. Other members of staff were James McCarthy, John Guilfoyle and Brendan Haniffy. This important institution had been founded six years earlier by Leo Hale Taylor, vicar apostolic of the jurisdiction. In December 1958 Jim was transferred to Topo island, near Badagry, where he was engaged in pastoral work for four months. He was then posted to St. Peter's secondary college, Aro, Abeokuta. This school which had been opened in 1956 with John Guilfoyle as founder principal, was also known as the 'Fr. Coquard Memorial Secondary School', in memory of the celebrated S.M.A. missionary Jean Marie Coquard, a self taught surgeon, who founded the renowned Sacred Heart hospital at the turn of the century.

In 1964 Jimmy was appointed superior of Ikeja mission, in Lagos, where the international airport was located. Six years later he was appointed parish priest of Maryland, also in Lagos. Jimmy had a happy, outgoing disposition and always enjoyed the best of relations with Nigerians, whether Christian or Moslem. He was also a man of extraordinary energy. This enabled him to play an important role during the unsettled years of the civil war when entry into, or departure from, Nigeria, was a complicated and difficult process. When weary, stressed or sick missionaries arrived in Lagos on their way home to Ireland, Jimmy took care of the endless formalities at the airport with cheerfulness, skill and confidence. He also provided a reassuring welcome for new arrivals.

In 1973 Jimmy spent a short period attached to Knock Shrine. In January of the following year he took up an appointment in Leeds diocese, serving as assistant in St. Joseph's parish, Waterloo Road, Hunslet. Jimmy was seconded to the British Province of the Society in September 1976, taking charge of the S.M.A. house at Claredon Place, Dunblane, Perthshire, Scotland. In 1981 he took up a chaplaincy with the Irish armed forces at the Curragh Camp, Co Kildare. Then, after a posting in the diocese of Plymouth he ministered in Priory Road, St. Marychurch, Torquay, during 1983 1984 he returned to the army chaplaincy service, taking up a post at Finner Camp, Co Donegal and, later, at Custume Barracks, Athlone.

Jimmy was a fine singer, one of the best in the Province. He was also a big powerful man, over fourteen stone in his prime. During his student years he played with St. Finbarr's hurling club. In 1941 he was selected to play for the Cork minor hurling team. He was full forward on the team, captained by his club colleague, Sean Condon, which beat Galway in the All Ireland final of that year. Three years later, in 1944, he again teamed up with Sean Condon and figured at full forward on the Cork senior hurling team that completed the record four in a row victories. That team also contained two other players, Joe Kelly and Cottrell who later became priests. Both predeceased Jimmy.

In the summer of 1994 Jimmy went to Los Angeles, U.S.A. to visit relatives. There he suffered the heart attack from which he was later to die. Jimmy was brought home to Cork for burial. His Requiem Mass, at Wilton, was attended not only by family and confreres, but also by senior members of the Defence Forces and members of Cork's hurling fraternity. John Buckley, auxiliary bishop of Cork and Ross, presided.

He is buried in Wilton cemetery.