Arthur McRae | ANZ Clergy


About Help Contact login Monsignor Arthur McRae Title: Monsignor First Name: Arthur Middle Names: James Preferred Name: Surname: McRae Order: Date of Birth: 04-Feb-1899 Place of Birth: Winton Country of Birth: New Zealand Date of Ordination: 14-Aug-1921 Place of Ordination: St Joseph's Church, Wellington Country of Ordination: New Zealand Ordination Diocese: Wellington Seminary: Holy Cross College, Mosgiel, New Zealand Date of Death: 11-Dec-1964 Place of Death: Nelson Country of Death: New Zealand Date of Burial: 15-Dec-1964 Place of Burial: Karori, Wellington Country of Burial: New Zealand Find A Grave URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/300197589 FindaGrave - Person Photo FindaGrave - Grave Photo Biographical Notes Diocesan News. Archdiocese of Wellington. (From our own correspondent.), New Zealand Tablet, Dunedin, 11 August 1921, p 23, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZT19210811.2.31: August 5. Rev. Arthur McRae, a student of Holy Cross College, Mosgiel, will be ordained to the priesthood at St. Joseph’s Church on Sunday next. After his ordination Father McRae will proceed to the United States for the purpose of studying at the Catholic University at Washington. He will include in his studies—which will occupy a course of two years—the methods adopted by the Paulist Fathers in explaining from the public platform the doctrines of the Church and its teaching on the social problems of the day. On his return to New Zealand Father McRae will take up special work for which he is being trained in the archdiocese. --- Ordination details: Holy Cross College Students Ordained to the Priesthood, New Zealand Tablet, 29 April 1925, p 29, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZT19250429.2.38. 'At Post Graduate Course in Catholic University, Washington." --- Priest Honoured. Title of Monsignor, New Zealand Herald, Auckland, 11 September 1940, p 11, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19400911.2.121: [By Telegraph—Own Correspondent] Wellington, Tuesday. In recognition of his work for the success of the National Eucharistic Congress, held in Wellington in February, the Rev. Dr. A.J. McRae has had bestowed upon him by the Holy See the title of monsignor. Although Monsignor McRae held the position of treasurer of the committee, he was responsible for a great deal more work than his office denoted. The honour now bestowed upon him is not common in the Catholic Church in New Zealand. Monsignor McRae recently relinquished the position of administrator of the parish of St. Joseph after holding it for 12 years to devote the fullest time and energy to being secretary to Archbishop O'Shea and chancellor of the archdiocese. --- Deaths, Evening Post, Wellington, 12 December 1964, p 1, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19641212.2.14: McRae, Rt. Rev. Monsignor Arthur James.—On Dec. 11, 1964, at Nelson (suddenly) parish priest of Kilbirnie, loved brother of Christopher, Mary, and Isabella, and the late Alexander; aged 65 years. R.I.P. The Rosary will be recited in St. Patrick's Church, Kilbirnie, at 7.30pm, Monday. Solemn Requiem Mass will be celebrated in the Church of St. Mary of the Angels. Boulcott St., on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 1964, at 11am, thence to the Cemetery, Karori. J. E. Taylor and Sons, Ltd. --- A Big Man Sadly Missed. Monsignor McRae Dies Suddenly, Evening Post, Wellington, 12 December 1964, p 20, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19641212.2.108: The Vicar General of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Wellington (the Rt. Rev. Monsignor A.J. McRae) died suddenly in Nelson last night at the age of 65. A lifelong friend, the Rev. Dr. N.H. Gascoigne, of Seatoun, said today that the Catholic Church in New Zealand and the Archdiocese in particular have sustained a loss whose magnitude it is well nigh impossible to exaggerate. "Wide and penetrating as was his contribution to nearly every sphere of the church's activities, his deeply Christian outlook reached out from his earliest years as a priest to all men of good will," he said. "No one welcomed more than he did the deepening ecumenical spirit and long before the pontificate of Pope John he strove to cement the most cordial relations with other Christian communions. Many outside the late Monsignor's own fold will join in deeply lamenting his untimely death. "A man of deep but unostentatious piety, with a truly philosophic turn of mind, he gave unstintingly of his counsel and wisdom to all who sought his guidance and they were many, drawn from every sphere of life. He was possessed of a remarkably objective mind, and personalities never entered into his judgments. Big physically in frame, he will long be remembered for the essential bigness of his mind. A man truly without guile, he will be long and sadly missed by many irrespective of social status and creed. Truly can it be said he has left an abiding mark on the Catholic Church in New Zealand and far beyond it." The late Monsignor was born in Winton on February 4, 1899, and he received his early education at Hokonui School and later at St. Mary's Convent School, Nelson. From 1912 till 1915 he was a student of Nelson College, and the following year entered Holy Cross College, Mosgiel, to begin his studies for the priesthood. He was ordained in August, 1921, by the late Archbishop O'Shea, with whom he was destined to be most closely associated in the administration of the archdiocese. Immediately after ordination, he proceeded to the United States for higher studies at the Catholic University of America, gaining in the course of the next four years both his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees. While in America he studied diocesan administration, notably at the chancery office of the archdiocese of Baltimore. In 1926 he returned to New Zealand and was appointed assistant at St. Joseph's in Buckle Street, residing with Archbishop O'Shea. His outstanding administrative and financial abilities led to his being appointed chancellor of the archdiocese, a post he held till his death. Thus began his truly monumental work in financing the rapid development of the Church throughout the archdiocese. A member of the Diocesan Council since 1928, more and more did he become the principal adviser of Archbishop O'Shea. His outstanding work in preparing for the National Eucharistic Congress in 1940 found fitting recognition in his being made a domestic prelate with the title of Monsignor. In 1944 he was appointed parish priest of Kilbirnie, and till his death remained pastor of that parish. For many years he was the church's representative on the Inter-Church Council, and recently was appointed vice-chairman of the New Zealand council for Corso. He rendered notable service in the Freedom from Hunger Campaign. Solemn Requiem Mass will be celebrated at the Church of St. Mary of the Angels, Boulcott Street, at 11am on Tuesday, December 15. --- Michael Rombouts, editor, Death notices in the New Zealand Tablet, May 1873 to Apr 1996 (with obituary notices for Otago and Southland), 2 volumes (Dunedin, NZ: self-published, 2000): McRae Arthur James (d 11 Dec 1964, aged 65 yrs) at Nelson; born at Winton; Mgr.; Vicar General and Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Wellington; the late Mgr. McRae was educated at St Mary's School, Nelson and Nelson College; he studied for the priesthood at Holy Cross College, Mosgiel and gained the degrees of M.A. and Ph.D. at the Catholic University of America. [Tablet 16 Dec 1964, photo] McRae Christopher husband of Jane (d 12 Jul 1929, aged 72 yrs) at Nelson; late of Hokonui; coming from Highland stock, the McRae family originally lived in Lochalsh, in the North-west Scottish Highlands; members of the McRae family settled on farms in the Hokonui district and so well known were they that the country became known as the "McRae Country"; they were devout catholics and did much for the cause of their Church in the country in which they lived; one of the characteristics for which the McRaes were noted was their splendid stature; the family of which the late Mr Chrstopher McRae was a member consisted of 7 children - four sons and 3 daughters; each of the sons was noted for his great height; deceased who was the tallest stood over 6ft 7in, and one of his sons, who entered the priesthood, is considerably taller; about 35 years ago the deceased gentleman married Miss Jane Skinner, of N.E.V., Dunedin; they lived at Hokonui for some years and then about 20 years ago they removed to Nelson, where they took up farming in the district; latterly they retired and took up residence near the town of Nelson; there were 5 children of the marriage - 3 sons and 2 daughters; the eldest son Alexander, is a member of the legal firm of Brady and McRae (Timaru); the 2nd son, who entered the priesthood, is Rev. Dr. McRae (Wellington); Christopher, the 3rd son, is a member of the Wellington Police Force; the two daughters, Mary and Bella, live with their mother at Nelson; Fr. Seymour, S.M. attended Mr McRae; the service was by Fr. McRae.

Title:

Monsignor

First Name:

Arthur

Middle Names:

James

Preferred Name:

Surname:

McRae

Order:

Date of Birth:

04-Feb-1899

Place of Birth:

Winton

Country of Birth:

New Zealand

Date of Ordination:

14-Aug-1921

Place of Ordination:

St Joseph's Church, Wellington

Country of Ordination:

New Zealand

Ordination Diocese:

Wellington

Seminary:

Holy Cross College, Mosgiel, New Zealand

Date of Death:

11-Dec-1964

Place of Death:

Nelson

Country of Death:

New Zealand

Date of Burial:

15-Dec-1964

Place of Burial:

Karori, Wellington

Country of Burial:

New Zealand

Find A Grave URL:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/300197589

FindaGrave - Person Photo

FindaGrave - Grave Photo

Diocesan News. Archdiocese of Wellington. (From our own correspondent.), New Zealand Tablet, Dunedin, 11 August 1921, p 23, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZT19210811.2.31:

August 5. Rev. Arthur McRae, a student of Holy Cross College, Mosgiel, will be ordained to the priesthood at St. Joseph’s Church on Sunday next. After his ordination Father McRae will proceed to the United States for the purpose of studying at the Catholic University at Washington. He will include in his studies—which will occupy a course of two years—the methods adopted by the Paulist Fathers in explaining from the public platform the doctrines of the Church and its teaching on the social problems of the day. On his return to New Zealand Father McRae will take up special work for which he is being trained in the archdiocese.

---

Ordination details: Holy Cross College Students Ordained to the Priesthood, New Zealand Tablet, 29 April 1925, p 29, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZT19250429.2.38. 'At Post Graduate Course in Catholic University, Washington."

---

Priest Honoured. Title of Monsignor, New Zealand Herald, Auckland, 11 September 1940, p 11, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19400911.2.121:

[By Telegraph—Own Correspondent] Wellington, Tuesday.
In recognition of his work for the success of the National Eucharistic Congress, held in Wellington in February, the Rev. Dr. A.J. McRae has had bestowed upon him by the Holy See the title of monsignor. Although Monsignor McRae held the position of treasurer of the committee, he was responsible for a great deal more work than his office denoted. The honour now bestowed upon him is not common in the Catholic Church in New Zealand.

Monsignor McRae recently relinquished the position of administrator of the parish of St. Joseph after holding it for 12 years to devote the fullest time and energy to being secretary to Archbishop O'Shea and chancellor of the archdiocese.

---

Deaths, Evening Post, Wellington, 12 December 1964, p 1, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19641212.2.14:

McRae, Rt. Rev. Monsignor Arthur James.—On Dec. 11, 1964, at Nelson (suddenly) parish priest of Kilbirnie, loved brother of Christopher, Mary, and Isabella, and the late Alexander; aged 65 years. R.I.P. The Rosary will be recited in St. Patrick's Church, Kilbirnie, at 7.30pm, Monday. Solemn Requiem Mass will be celebrated in the Church of St. Mary of the Angels. Boulcott St., on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 1964, at 11am, thence to the Cemetery, Karori. J. E. Taylor and Sons, Ltd.

---

A Big Man Sadly Missed. Monsignor McRae Dies Suddenly, Evening Post, Wellington, 12 December 1964, p 20, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19641212.2.108:

The Vicar General of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Wellington (the Rt. Rev. Monsignor A.J. McRae) died suddenly in Nelson last night at the age of 65.

A lifelong friend, the Rev. Dr. N.H. Gascoigne, of Seatoun, said today that the Catholic Church in New Zealand and the Archdiocese in particular have sustained a loss whose magnitude it is well nigh impossible to exaggerate.

"Wide and penetrating as was his contribution to nearly every sphere of the church's activities, his deeply Christian outlook reached out from his earliest years as a priest to all men of good will," he said. "No one welcomed more than he did the deepening ecumenical spirit and long before the pontificate of Pope John he strove to cement the most cordial relations with other Christian communions. Many outside the late Monsignor's own fold will join in deeply lamenting his untimely death.

"A man of deep but unostentatious piety, with a truly philosophic turn of mind, he gave unstintingly of his counsel and wisdom to all who sought his guidance and they were many, drawn from every sphere of life. He was possessed of a remarkably objective mind, and personalities never entered into his judgments. Big physically in frame, he will long be remembered for the essential bigness of his mind. A man truly without guile, he will be long and sadly missed by many irrespective of social status and creed. Truly can it be said he has left an abiding mark on the Catholic Church in New Zealand and far beyond it."

The late Monsignor was born in Winton on February 4, 1899, and he received his early education at Hokonui School and later at St. Mary's Convent School, Nelson. From 1912 till 1915 he was a student of Nelson College, and the following year entered Holy Cross College, Mosgiel, to begin his studies for the priesthood. He was ordained in August, 1921, by the late Archbishop O'Shea, with whom he was destined to be most closely associated in the administration of the archdiocese.

Immediately after ordination, he proceeded to the United States for higher studies at the Catholic University of America, gaining in the course of the next four years both his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees. While in America he studied diocesan administration, notably at the chancery office of the archdiocese of Baltimore.

In 1926 he returned to New Zealand and was appointed assistant at St. Joseph's in Buckle Street, residing with Archbishop O'Shea. His outstanding administrative and financial abilities led to his being appointed chancellor of the archdiocese, a post he held till his death. Thus began his truly monumental work in financing the rapid development of the Church throughout the archdiocese.

A member of the Diocesan Council since 1928, more and more did he become the principal adviser of Archbishop O'Shea. His outstanding work in preparing for the National Eucharistic Congress in 1940 found fitting recognition in his being made a domestic prelate with the title of Monsignor. In 1944 he was appointed parish priest of Kilbirnie, and till his death remained pastor of that parish.

For many years he was the church's representative on the Inter-Church Council, and recently was appointed vice-chairman of the New Zealand council for Corso. He rendered notable service in the Freedom from Hunger Campaign.

Solemn Requiem Mass will be celebrated at the Church of St. Mary of the Angels, Boulcott Street, at 11am on Tuesday, December 15.

---

Michael Rombouts, editor, Death notices in the New Zealand Tablet, May 1873 to Apr 1996 (with obituary notices for Otago and Southland), 2 volumes (Dunedin, NZ: self-published, 2000):

McRae Arthur James (d 11 Dec 1964, aged 65 yrs) at Nelson; born at Winton; Mgr.; Vicar General and Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Wellington; the late Mgr. McRae was educated at St Mary's School, Nelson and Nelson College; he studied for the priesthood at Holy Cross College, Mosgiel and gained the degrees of M.A. and Ph.D. at the Catholic University of America. [Tablet 16 Dec 1964, photo]
McRae Christopher husband of Jane (d 12 Jul 1929, aged 72 yrs) at Nelson; late of Hokonui; coming from Highland stock, the McRae family originally lived in Lochalsh, in the North-west Scottish Highlands; members of the McRae family settled on farms in the Hokonui district and so well known were they that the country became known as the "McRae Country"; they were devout catholics and did much for the cause of their Church in the country in which they lived; one of the characteristics for which the McRaes were noted was their splendid stature; the family of which the late Mr Chrstopher McRae was a member consisted of 7 children - four sons and 3 daughters; each of the sons was noted for his great height; deceased who was the tallest stood over 6ft 7in, and one of his sons, who entered the priesthood, is considerably taller; about 35 years ago the deceased gentleman married Miss Jane Skinner, of N.E.V., Dunedin; they lived at Hokonui for some years and then about 20 years ago they removed to Nelson, where they took up farming in the district; latterly they retired and took up residence near the town of Nelson; there were 5 children of the marriage - 3 sons and 2 daughters; the eldest son Alexander, is a member of the legal firm of Brady and McRae (Timaru); the 2nd son, who entered the priesthood, is Rev. Dr. McRae (Wellington); Christopher, the 3rd son, is a member of the Wellington Police Force; the two daughters, Mary and Bella, live with their mother at Nelson; Fr. Seymour, S.M. attended Mr McRae; the service was by Fr. McRae.

Monsignor Arthur McRae

Biographical Notes