Mgr James (Jim) O'Loughlin

Early life

James O'Loughlin was born in Pinnaroo, in the Mallee region of South Australia on May 25 1931. James, also affectionately known as ‘Jim’, was one of six children. When he was only seven years old, his father died suddenly. Sadly, over time, with the economic collapse of the Great Depression, the family became homeless. However, the local Pinnaroo people came to the rescue by building the family a new home. Jim always had a great admiration for the people of the local Mallee district. They had character as people of God in whom he saw holiness and goodness across all the faith communities.

Jim received his early education at the local St Joseph's School at Pinnaroo. He then went to St Francis Xavier Seminary where he completed his secondary education and commenced studies for the priesthood. Aged only 12, he found seminary life rather strange and lonely. He was very close to his family, especially his mother. Due to long distances and a lack of transport, family, especially his mother, was rarely able to visit. In 1952, Jim was selected to go to Rome to complete his theological studies at Propaganda College. He was ordained priest in Rome on December 7, 1954. Jim’s family was all accustomed to an active and prayerful religious life and community involvement. His youngest brother Kevin was also ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Adelaide on July 9, 1966.

Pastoral  Ministry & Appointments

Jim arrived back in Adelaide on October 7, 1955 and a week later he commenced as Assistant Priest at the Thebarton parish. He always had fond memories of his first parish where he became grounded in pastoral ministry. He worked in many other parishes across South Australia where he endeared himself to the people and gained unique pastoral experiences wherever he was called. In the Barossa Valley, Jim was the second Catholic parish priest in the Barossa which was dominated by the Lutheran Church at the time.  Given Jim was never limited by sectarian boundaries; Jim developed great relationships with the other church leaders.

As well as being parish priest, Jim was also appointed part-time Chaplain to the RAAF Reserve based at Edinburgh.

He ministered in St Mary’s (1971), Payneham (1974-1988), Elizabeth North, Salisbury and Elizabeth parishes. In October 1973 he took two months leave to travel and study overseas.

From (1986-1990), Jim served as Vicar General to the Archbishop of Adelaide (Archbishop Len Faulkner) and was appointed to the Diocesan Pastoral Team in a new initiative undertaken by Archbishop Faulkner to lead and govern the Archdiocese in a spirit of collaborative ministry involving lay women, ordained and religious people. Other members of the Team were Sr Pat Fox, a sister of Mercy and Mrs Madge McGuire.

In Jim’s eulogy, he was described as a "loyal brother priest to Len Faulkner and a thoughtful, supportive and wise member of the Diocesan Pastoral Team. He entered into the life of the Diocesan Pastoral Team wholeheartedly and promoted its work with gentle confidence and steadfast commitment".  He offered wise counsel to the first lay woman, on the culture and mores of the church system. He was a strong advocate for women being involved in Church leadership. Jim continued his role on the Diocesan Pastoral Team until 1990 and then as a Diocesan Consultor until 1993 when he was again appointed to the Council of Priests of Archdiocese of Adelaide.

Other Roles

He was a member of the Committee for the Education of Clergy (1970-1975) to the Diocesan Theology Institute Committee. During 1975, Jim had an active role in the Regional Matrimonial Tribunal and was a member of the Canon Law Society of Australia and New Zealand. Throughout 1975-1981, he participated in the National Lutheran Catholic Dialogue. In 1980, he was the Convenor of the National Convention for the National Council of Priests and served as the Adelaide committee member of the National Council of Priests for five years. Jim’s other various roles included being the Editor of the National Council of Priests newsletter for one edition and delegate for the first meeting of the international gathering of English speaking priests in 1986 in Chicago. He was a key member of Jordan Kennedy Scholarship committee.

Jim was seconded to the Committee of Pastoral Formation at St Francis Xavier Seminary becoming its pastoral director in 1982-86. Whilst he was concerned about some aspects of seminary life, especially in the earlier times, he did acknowledge that the routine did have its benefits. It had enabled him to develop a solid foundation to prayer and spirituality, giving added depth and meaning to his priesthood. Given his own experience and insights of the seminary he fulfilled well the role of pastoral director for the seminary.

In 1990, Jim was on Sabbatical at CTU Chicago, Seaton Hall University, Newark, St Buenos, Wales where he was involved for two months with formation for retreats. During 1990 Jim, was also appointed to the Elizabeth North parish. In 1991, he was the Coordinator of education/formation of clergy under five years ordained.

From 1993, Jim was appointed to the Salisbury parish as part of the Pastoral Team leading the parish until he retired in 2006. In 1998, he became the Team Leader in the Salisbury parish and was appointed to the Diocesan Presbytery Fund Board in 2000 for a period of three years. Concurrent to his ministry in the Salisbury parish, Jim spent a short time in the Mount Gambier parish. During 1995 he was appointed to the Priestly Life and Ministry Committee.

In 2001, Jim was appointed as the Administrator of the Salisbury parish, a position he held until his retirement on May 26, 2006, residing in his home at Paralowie. He resumed active ministry when he was invited as the Priest in Support for the Elizabeth Catholic parish in 2007.

Among Jim’s appointments, on April 26, 2002, he was appointed a Prelate of Honour with the title of Monsignor. In 2003 he was again appointed a member of the Clergy Care Council. On October 30, 2007 the title "Pastor Emeritus" (PE) was conferred upon him. Jim retired completely from active ministry in 2012 and lived his final years at Estia Nursing Home in Kensington Gardens.

Retirement

In retirement Mgr Jim continued to take an active interest in the local presbyterate. He regularly attended meetings of the Senior Priests group and other clergy gatherings, joining in discussions often raising issues of concern. In the words of Madge Maguire Jim continued to state his views with a certain audacity, often expressing an opposing opinion to get things stirred up a bit and being an "irascible disrupter".

At the heart of Jim’s theology, and consistent with his innovative and creative approach to ministry, were his passions for collaborative ministry and adult learning. He was always learning, reading, studying and encouraging others to also learn – to learn about themselves, God, the wider community and its cultures, and explore different ways of being.

Art was an aspect of our world that Jim was always keen to learn about. He was an avid lover of art: he admired it, studied it, prayed with it, and sought to educate others on it.  He appreciated works of art, images and words. He developed a deep curiosity and abiding interest in the Eastern Rite Church, hence his vast collection of icons at home and those commissioned for the Salisbury and Elizabeth parishes.

Jim’s Final Years

Jim’s transition from his Paralowie home to Estia was a time where his sense of belonging became unsettled. The move required him to adjust his life in many ways: it brought about change of physical living space, getting to know a new and different community, and an acknowledgement that this was a new (and perhaps final) stage in his life. He embraced this change with courage, humility and humour. Even his reflections on this change in his life emphasised the importance of letting go and to trust in God.

Monsignor James O'Loughlin died on Wednesday December 11, 2019 in his last residence at Estia slipping peacefully away into eternal life in a spirit of grace, surrounded by the love and prayers of so many people near and far. As per Jim’s wishes, his funeral Mass was celebrated at St Augustine's Church, Salisbury, and he was buried in the nearby Pioneer Catholic Cemetery. Despite the scorching heat of 40 plus degrees and strong winds on December 20, 2019, Jim was prayerfully farewelled in a spirit of collaboration and inclusivity by his family, friends and priests.

May Jim rest in peace, and we remember him as a priest, mentor, spiritual director, enduring supporter of his fellow priests, a promoter of the role of lay people in leadership, a firm believer in the Universal Church, an irascible disrupter and more particularly as a man of deep prayer and contemplation.