This article is one of a series about people who have died with coronavirus in Ireland and among the diaspora. You can read more of them here. If you would like a friend or family member included in the series, please email liveslost@irishtimes.com
Fr James (Jim) Delaney
1928-2021
Fr Jim Delaney was one of 10 Spiritan priests, also known as the Holy Ghost Fathers, who died in January 2021 during the third wave of the pandemic.
One of eight children, he grew up on the South Circular Road in Dublin. Having attended Synge Street CBS, he entered the then Holy Ghost Novitiate in Kilshane, Co Tipperary, after his Leaving Certificate in 1945. He was professed the following year. His younger brother Noel, who died in 1979, also joined the order.
Fr Jim studied philosophy, culminating in a BA from UCD in 1949, and spent the next two years prefecting in Rockwell College.
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One of more than 40 Spiritan priests ordained in 1954, Fr Jim was appointed to the newly-created diocese of Mombasa in Kenya.
He spent 36 years in Kenya and became fluent in Swahili. During his time there, he was involved in the building of churches, a hospital and schools. He was assigned to open a new parish at Chaani, where he built St Joseph’s Church, the first in 40 years on Mombasa Island.
He was involved with all aspects of parish life – baptisms, weddings and funerals – and when it was his silver jubilee, families walked long distances to celebrate with him.
Having already done significant fundraising work in the United States, he moved there in the 1990s where he raised funds for Marian House and the missions. He ministered in St Aloysius church, Jersey city, for a number of years. He returned to Ireland nearly a decade ago.
Speaking at his funeral mass, his friend Fr Noel O’Meara described Fr Jim as a “gentleman through and through. He could be great company to those who were his particularly good friends”.
Fr Jim was known to his family as Uncle Seamie. "He was a wonderful uncle and grand uncle to us all," said his niece Jeanne Sadlier.
“He was a very warm and thoughtful person. He always had a good sense of humour and never took himself too seriously. We looked forward to his calls and all the latest news of his adventures in fundraising.
“When he came home for Christmas, as he sometimes did, it made it a really happy occasion. Everyone used to love talking and discussing various topics with him. He could relate to people of all ages.”
Some of the times he was home were sad, when he celebrated the funeral Masses of very close family. There were also happy times – and a very special occasion when he officiated at the wedding of his grandniece on May 1st, 2015.
“He never needed or used notes for any of his sermons. As an uncle he could talk for Ireland.”
