Société des Missions Africaines –Province d'Irlande

né le 4 septembre 1906 à Belfast dans le diocèse de Down & Connor, Irlande membre de la SMA le 8 juillet 1927 prêtre le 7 juin 1931 décédé le 22 février 1971

né le 4 septembre 1906 à Belfast dans le diocèse de Down & Connor, Irlande membre de la SMA le 8 juillet 1927 prêtre le 7 juin 1931 décédé le 22 février 1971

Thomas Murray was born in Belfast (the family address was on Mountpottinger Road), in the diocese of Down and Connor, on 4 September 1906. He died at Ibadan, Nigeria, on 22 February 197l.

Thomas (Tommy) studied at the Sacred Heart college, Ballinafad, Co Mayo (1921 1922) and St. Joseph's college, Wilton, Cork (1922 1925), before entering the Society's novitiate and house of philosophy at Kilcolgan, Co Galway. Two years later, on 8 July 1927, 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 at St. Colman's cathedral, Newry, by Bishop Edward Mulhern of Dromore diocese, on 7th June 193l. He was one of a group of twelve ordained on that day.

After ordination Tommy was appointed to the vicariate apostolic of Western Nigeria which had been the first mission in Nigeria entrusted to the care of the Irish Province, when Bishop Thomas Broderick was placed in charge in 1918. Tommy joined the vicariate in the last years of Bishop Broderick's tenure (he died in 1933). During the Bishop's term of office the early work had been consolidated and the boundaries of the Church had been vigorously extended. Tommy was to minister in the vicariate (which in 1934 was renamed the vicariate of Asaba-Benin) until 1958. His first appointment was to the district of Lokoja, which at the time extended over a vast area, including Okeni, Kabba and Oka. A year later he was called to Asaba, headquarters of the vicariate, to act as secretary to Bishop Broderick. He continued as bishop's secretary when Leo Taylor succeeded Bishop Broderick in 1933. In 1935 Tommy was appointed to district, to the mission of Sapele.

Two years later, in 1937, he was appointed superior of Aragba mission. A year later he was transferred to the major inter-vicarial seminary then situated in Asaba. This seminary, which catered for south-west and western Nigeria, as well as the north, had a complement of eighteen students in training, studying classics, philosophy and theology. Named after St. Paul, this vital institution was transferred to Benin City in 1938 by Bishop Taylor. In subsequent years - the jurisdiction became the diocese of Benin City in 1950 - Tommy ministered in Agenebode as well as in St. Thomas' teacher training college at Ibusa. However he is most closely associated with the seminary, first at Asaba and then at Benin city, where he spent many years. Among his distinguished pupils, alumni of the seminary, were John Kwao Amuzu, archbishop of Lagos, and Anthony Saliu Sanusi, bishop of Ijebu Ode.

Tommy also had important Society responsibilities thrust upon him. For example he was acting 'regional superior' of his colleagues, living at Owo, between 1952 1955. His responsibilities involved not only the spiritual and temporal welfare of the confrères but also liaising with the bishops over their appointments. Moreover, he was elected delegate of the members of his region to the Provincial Assembly of 1958. On his return from that meeting he became one of the foundation staff of the diocese of Ibadan, erected in April of that year under the leadership of Bishop Richard Finn. He was to serve in Ibadan diocese until his unexpected death in 197l. During his years in Ibadan he occupied senior positions, as befitting a missionary of his experience. From the mid-1950's into the early 1960's he served for long periods as education secretary. In this capacity he visited schools throughout the Ibadan jurisdiction, interviewing managers and teachers, over-seeing building and academic standards, and liaising with the government education department. His services to education and the community were formally recognised by the government when on 1 January 1966 he was appointed a 'Member of the Civil Division of the Order of the British Empire'. For periods during the 1960's he served as vicar general of the diocese, taking charge of the diocese in the absence of the bishop. He was vicar general at the time of his death. Tommy spent most of his years in Ibadan in charge of Christ the King parish, Odo Ona, Moor Plantation. He came to Moor Plantation when it was merely a residence for the education secretary. Over the years he developed it into a flourishing parish.

Tommy is remembered as a man of great kindness and hospitality, big-hearted, and a peacemaker, equally at home with young and old. These were the qualities which made him an ideal 'regional superior' and vicar general. He was laid to rest in the grounds of Christ the King church, of which he was pastor when he died.

He is buried in Ibadan, Nigeria.