Fr James MacSweeney

Early Life

James MacSweeney was born on February 8, 1902 at Ballinagree, Macroom, Co. Cork, Ireland. His early education was at Christian Brothers College in Cork and his theological studies were undertaken at St Patrick’s College, Thurles. On June 10, 1928 he was ordained priest in the Cathedral at Thurles.

Like a number of priests from St Patrick’s College Thurles, Fr MacSweeney volunteered to come to Australia. He arrived in Adelaide on November 11, 1928.

Appointments

As a newly arrived priest his first appointment was to the staff of St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral parish. In the following year on February 1, 1929 he was appointed assistant priest at Lower North Adelaide parish, which included the care of the Adelaide Children’s Hospital. On January 1, 1930 he returned to the Cathedral parish where he was assistant priest for the next four years. 

While there Archbishop Spence also appointed him Director of the Catholic Men’s Hostel, which offered accommodation to homeless unemployed men during the Depression. Fr Mac, as he was known, was noted for his kindness and empathy for those whose life was difficult.

On January 1, 1936 he received his first appointment as a parish priest taking up the care of the Yorketown parish. In March the following year he took some extended leave in Ireland, visiting family and relatives. In all he spent 10 years on Yorke Peninsula.

To the South East

On August 1, 1946 Fr MacSweeney was appointed parish priest of Naracoorte in the South East and he was there for eight years. While there he was also asked to undertake some military work. In January 1950 he took six months leave for another visit to Ireland.

On July 1, 1954 he was appointed parish priest of Millicent where he stayed for 15 years. In 1957 he again took extended leave for six months in Ireland. He did the same again in 1959.

While in Millicent he undertook what was probably his main achievement – the building of a new Church of St Alphonsus. This proved a difficult task as it involved the demolition of the old church, which did not meet with universal approval. 

Fr MacSweeney was a bit of a worrier and he sought much advice and support from Mgr Redden who was the Dean at Mt Gambier. However the parish ended up with a rather magnificent church of which parishioners are still proud.

During his time a lot of development took place at the local school which was administered by the Sisters of Mercy at that time.

On February 10, 1969 Fr Mac was appointed parish priest of Gawler. However, he found it rather difficult to settle there and he took leave to Ireland on quite a number of occasions, six months in 1971, four months in 1973, two months in 1974, four months in 1977 and two months in 1979.

In August 1980 he took sick leave and again spent some time in Ireland. On his return he asked to retire and on January 30, 1981 he took up residence Villa Beovich at Myrtle Bank. Archbishop Gleeson conferred on him the title “Pastor Emeritus”. 

Later he was confined to the infirmary at Lourdes Valley. Towards the end of 1985 he spent a short time in the Flinders Hospital where he died on December 6.

A Vigil ceremony with the Rosary was celebrated in the Lourdes Valley Chapel on December 8, and his funeral Mass was celebrated the following morning at St Paul of the Cross Church, Glen Osmond.

Fellow Irishman and good friend Fr John O’Callaghan was Principal Celebrant and Archbishop Faulkner delivered the homily in the presence of Archbishop Gleeson who presided. His burial took place at Centennial Park Cemetery.

May he rest in peace.