Monsignor James J. Doody P.P., P.H.
Fr. Jim was born on December 1, 1925 in Mosquito, Colinet island, St. Mary’s Bay. He was the third of ten children of Sarah and Casimir Doody. He received his early education and his local community and grew up helping his dad in the fishery.
At fourteen he left home to join the adult work force. Over the next four years, he worked as a waiter, a road construction pipefitter, and a short order cook. Legally an adult at eighteen, he returned home and helped his dad build a schooner and fished for two years. When the schooner was later sold, Fr. Jim was hired as it's skipper for sailing expeditions in Placentia bay.
Fr. Jim recalls during these years appreciating the times that he could attend daily Mass in Argentia, because, on Colinet Island a priest could visit only twice a year. Having completed his Grade 10 in night school in Argentia, and already thinking of the priesthood, Fr. Jim turned down a job to skipper a yacht for US Commandants. He had decided instead to continue his studies.
In September 1946, he enrolled at St. Bonaventure‘s college in Saint John's where he completed his Grade 11. The following year he moved on to St. Mary’s University in Halifax, NS, where he did first year Arts. Since Latin and French were academic requirements for seminaries, Fr. Jim completed three years of each during those two years.
While working as a "finished" carpenter in Stephenville in 1948, Fr. Jim was contacted by Archbishop E.P. Roche and asked to further his studies for the priesthood at All Hallows College in Dublin, Ireland in September.
Since 1953 was Vocation Year in the Archdiocese of St. John’s, Fr. Jim was brought home from Ireland to be ordained at the Basilica. This was the first time an All Hallows graduate was ordained at home in Newfoundland. Fr. Jim remembers how very large the filled-to-capacity Basilica was and how very small he felt as he proceeded up the main aisle on June 21, to be ordained by Archbishop P.J., Skinner, CJM.
The newly ordained Fr. Doody served us curate to three parish priest before getting his first assignment as Pastor of Oderin in 1957. Fr. Jim has many cherished memories of the people and the communities he has served, from the early days in Oderin where he visited communities by boat, to more recent times at St. Patrick’s, where he was hoisted by Crane to "lay hands on" the newly installed tower.
Peru has many fond memories for Fr. Jim. With sadness though, he recalls the tragic car accident that claimed the lives of Fr. Charlie Conroy and Sisters, Dorothy Carroll and Aquin English of the Ssisters of Mercy.
In 1979, Fr. Jim took leave from his parish in Placentia to study at the Oblate College in San Antonio, Texas, where he completed his Masters of Divinity, writing his thesis on a subject dear to his heart, Resettlement in Newfoundland.
In December 1994, Pope John Paul II designated Reverend James Doody asPrelate of Honour, with a lifetime title of Monsignor, recognition by the Holy Father of the special service rendered to the People of God by Fr. Jim.
Monsignor Doody retired as Pastor of St. Patrick’s Parish, and Administrator of St. John Bosco Parish in July 2010.
Following his retirement, he resided at St. Patrick’s Mercy Home until his passing on Tuesday, July 3, 2018.
Launching parish boat. Msgr. Doody centre of picture back on
