Jim Dooley was born in Greenock, Renfrewshire, on 15th April, 1914. He spent his early life and got his early schooling in that town. At the age of fourteen he entered Blairs College, Aberdeen, which was then and until recently, the national junior seminary, where he began his preparation for the priesthood.
He was sent to Spain to continue his studies at the Royal Scots College, Valladolid. At, the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War he and others returned to St. Peter's College, Bearsden where he completed his studies and was ordained on 29th June, 1939.
His first appointment was to St. Andrew's Cathedral, Glasgow. He served there till 1944 when he was sent to St. Augustine's, Langloan, Coatbridge. After three years in that parish he was appointed to Our Lady of Good Aid in Motherwell, soon to be the Cathedral of the new Diocese of Motherwell. It was from this cathedral parish that he joined the Royal Navy on 9th November 1951.
The places and ships in which he served were many and varied. This was a most important part of his life and it made a great impression on him for the next seventeen years. He looked upon it as a university education; one which he was very glad to have had and which he greatly savoured. He was well equipped for it.
Most priests, inevitably, meet and know many people but, perhaps, not the cross-section of society which one meets in a service such as the Royal Navy. Jim Dooley had knowledge of this cross-section and had the understanding to go with it. He had many friends in the Navy at all levels.
If he had all this it was built on his early formation—in the home and in the Colleges at Blairs, Valladolid and Bearsden and, indeed, in the parishes in which he had served. He knew his faith and knew his own capabilities. These he developed early on. He had a good sound basic education and had made the most of it. He was well read, if not extensively. He had a good knowledge of and love for music but perhaps his forte was sport. It is significant that in addition to good reports from his commanding officers regarding the welfare of those in his charge, invariably, inclusion is made of his prowess in football, tennis, golf and cricket. He represented the Navy in these sports. Added to this he was blessed with a keen sense of humour. In a chaplain, if not absolutely essential, these were most valuable qualities.
He was proud of the people he had served with in many stations and ships—whether in shore establishments such as H.M.S. Daedalus, Lee-on-Solent, H.M.S. Raleigh, Plymouth, the Naval Air Station at Lossiemouth or in ships such as the battleship Vanguard, in the Home Fleet or the carriers H.M.S. Hermes and H.M.S. Eagle in the Far East.
He was not outwardly pious but always his Service Reports made special mention of his attention to and concern for the welfare of his flock within the Service. He was respected in the Navy and he respected it for its history, traditions, standards and the kind of men in it.
In that Service you could say he was all things to all men! Not all chaplains can be.
On leaving the Navy in 1969 he spent a short time at St. Columba's, Viewpark before being appointed as parish priest to St. Kevin's, Bargeddie. He remained there till October 1984 when the people of St. Kevin's showed their appreciation of his service to them in their tribute and presentation to him on the occasion of his retiring to live first in St. Monica's, Coatbridge, and then in Nazareth House, Cardonald.
He died after a short illness on 21st March 1988.
We share the grief of his brother and family who survive him.
May God grant him eternal rest. |
