Fr James Michael Sayers

Early Life

James Sayers was born on September 14, 1931. The family at that time lived in Woodville Park and James received his early education at Whitefriars School at Woodville and later at Marist Brothers College, Alberton.

He began his theological studies at St Francis Xavier’s Seminary, and in 1953 went to St Patrick’s College Manly to complete theology. He was ordained in St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral, Adelaide on July 21. 1956.

First appointments

After completing his studies Fr Jim returned to Adelaide on December 22, 1956 and was appointed Assistant Priest at Glenelg where he remained for five years. On 1 February 1, 1962 he was appointed to Semaphore parish, initially as Assistant Priest but three years later he was appointed Administrator of the parish, where Mgr Hanrahan was still in residence...

In September 1965 Fr Jim Sayers, while still at Semaphore, was appointed part time Chaplain to the Armed Services, but the following year he was to take up full time ministry in the Navy.

In December 1966 Fr Jim spent a month as Priest in Charge of Birdwood parish where he was present over the Christmas period of 1966. Then he moved to Woodville where he spent six months replacing Fr Sean McGearty who was on holidays in Ireland.

In June 1967 he was nominated as Assistant Priest in Elizabeth, but he only stayed three weeks.

Chaplain to the Services

On July 3, Fr Jim was called to full time service in the Navy, based in Sydney. This appointment continued until June 1972.

For the next five years he was a naval Chaplain serving in Australia and overseas. He services as Chaplain were certainly appreciated by the naval authorities, as is evident from two certificates he received on retirement.  These certificates from the Royal Australian Navy read…

From Nirimba Captain - “He is a fine Priest who has made a splendid impact. His ability to get through to young men and his wise counsel about their welfare and attitudes has been invaluable to me. I am sorry to see him go.”

From HMAS Sydney Captain - “He has applied his education and ministry to great
advantage especially in working among young sailors and those in trouble.”

On the completion of his time in the Navy, Fr Jim took study leave in August 1972 and completed a course in counselling, gaining a Post Graduate Masters Degree at Santa Clara University in USA. 

 Return to Parish Ministry

He returned to Adelaide in January 1974 and was appointed Parish Priest of Clearview, and this is where he was to spend the remaining years of his ministry. Fr Jim had a fine singing voice, which together with his forte as a preacher enhanced the quality of his celebrations of the liturgy. While at Clearview he also undertook the role of part-time chaplain at Yatala prison, which was within the parish. He continued this duty until 1990.

Other duties

During 1974 he was invited to give some lectures on counselling to the students at St Francis Xavier’s Seminary, thus utilising the skills he had developed during his study leave in the US.  These same skills enabled him assist the Matrimonial Tribunal in some of their psychological assessments.

In April 1974 he was also appointed a Member of the Council of Sites and Architecture.

In July 1976 he took four months long service leave. Then in December 1991 he was appointed Director/Coordinator of the Permanent Diaconate Program in the Archdiocese.

In January 2003 he received a three year appointment to the Senior Priests Care Committee.

Retirement

Fr Jim’s failing health led him to retirement in March 2004 at 72 years of age. He had been Parish Priest at Clearview for 30 years and he was given the title of Pastor Emeritus. Initially he moved to a house at Oakden, but after another spell in hospital he was invited to stay with Bob and Pat Hehir – (Bob explained how he had played both cricket and football against Jim Sayers when he was at the Seminary. Also Bob’s dad and Fr Jim’s dad were Police Sergeants together at the City Watch-House and Bob’s parents attended Fr Jim’s Ordination.)  Pat had been his Pastoral Associate. In continuing poor health Fr Jim continued to reside with and was cared for by the Hehir family at Clearview.

He died on Ash Wednesday, February 18, 2015 in the Flinders Private Hospital. His last comment was:  “Tell my people I love them”,

Requiem Mass was offered for him in the Good Shepherd Church at Clearview and he was buried in the Enfield cemetery.

In his eulogy, Fr Leon Czechowicz said of Fr Jim: “He lived a full life, truly loved by the people and admired by so many as a dedicated priest. He had a quirky sense of humour but there was one thing that people said about him again and again—that was his ability at preaching. He had a marvellous gift of not only making his sermons interesting but he made the Sacred Scriptures come alive and when he spoke it was as if he was speaking directly to them. I think the greatest words of praise that can be offered about a priest are to say: ‘He was a great preacher’.”

May he rest in peace.