Rev James McNamara SJ
Title:
Rev
First Name:
James
Middle Names:
Preferred Name:
Surname:
McNamara
Order:
SJ
Date of Birth:
Place of Birth:
Richmond VIC
Country of Birth:
Australia
Date of Ordination:
Place of Ordination:
Country of Ordination:
Ordination Diocese:
Seminary:
Date of Death:
Place of Death:
Melbourne VIC
Country of Death:
Australia
Date of Burial:
Place of Burial:
Boroondara, Kew VIC
Country of Burial:
Australia
Find A Grave URL:
Biographical Notes
Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017:
McNamara, James
Pastor; born Richmond, Victoria, 5 October 1907; died Melbourne, 27 July 1977, aged 69.
James McNamara was a 'gentle giant' who spent much of his life centered on St Ignatius' parish, Richmond. He was baptised in the parish Church, and attended the local school before going to Xavier College for his secondary studies. It was in the parish that he made his first Holy Communion and was confirmed; and there he served as a priest and as pastor, and from there he was buried in 1977.
He entered the Society at Loyola College, Greenwich, 17 February 1927, and proceeded with the studies of humanities and philosophy in Ireland, with a degree from the National University. He returned to Australia and Riverview for regency as a prefect and rowing master. He went back to Ireland for theology and tertianship.
The greater part of his ministry after ordination was in the parishes of Toowong, Hawthorn and Richmond. In all these places he was experienced as a wise and kind pastor. As parish priest he was a good financier.
In spite of his size and muscular strength he was never a man of robust health. He suffered especially in the hot weather.
After some 12 years in ordinary parish work he was sent to teach in the seminary, both at Werribee and Christchurch, where he taught psychology, cosmology and history of philosophy. He was appreciated for his gentleness in spiritual direction. However, he did not remain long in that ministry and returned to the parishes.
As parish priest he suffered the injustice of complaints to superiors from a disgruntled colleague. The result was that McNamara was transferred; yet he never complained or passed an uncharitable remark about the incident.
He was a man completely free of vanity or ambition, greeting everyone with a big smile that constantly concealed his intellectual ability. He was a lovable man and appreciated by those who knew him.
(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)