James Albert Murray
Encyclopedia
James Albert Murray is an American
prelate
of the Roman Catholic Church
. He served as Bishop of Kalamazoo
from 1998 to 2009.
, Michigan
to James Albert and Marcella Clare (née Harris) Murray; he has two older brothers, Joseph and William. After attending St. Mary Elementary and High Schools
in Jackson, he studied at Sacred Heart Seminary
in Detroit
, from where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree
), and St. John Provincial Seminary in Plymouth
, earning his Bachelor's in Sacred Theology
. Murray was ordained
to the priesthood
by Bishop Joseph Albers
on June 7, 1958, and then served as parochial vicar
of St. Joseph Parish in St. Joseph
until 1961.
He then worked as an assistant pastor
at St. Mary Cathedral
, and did pastoral
work at St. Therese Parish. He received a licentiate in canon law
from the Catholic University of America
in Washington, D.C.
in 1964. Murray served as pastor
of St. Gerard Parish in Lansing
from 1962 to 1973, whence he became rector
of St. Mary Cathedral. In addition to his duties as rector, he served as chancellor
, curial
moderator
, and tribunal
judge
for the Diocese of Lansing
as well. Murray was also a diocesan
ecumenical
officer, chaplain
of the Lansing police
, and sat on several committees of the Michigan Catholic Conference. He was raised to the rank of Honorary Prelate of His Holiness
in 1993.
On November 18, 1997, Murray was appointed the third Bishop of Kalamazoo
by Pope John Paul II
. He received his episcopal consecration
on January 27, 1998 from Adam Cardinal Maida, with Bishops Paul Donovan
and Carl Mengeling
serving as co-consecrators
, in St. Augutine Cathedral
. He selected as his episcopal motto
: "Rejoice in the Lord always" (Phil 4:4).
Upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75, Murray submitted his letter of resignation to Pope Benedict XVI
in 2007. His resignation was accepted on April 6, 2009, ending an eleven-year period as Bishop. He served as Apostolic Administrator
of Kalamazoo until the installation
of his successor, Paul J. Bradley
, on June 6, 2009.
Within the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
, he formerly sat on the Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Abuse. The Bishop is a member of the Committee for the American College of Louvain
as well.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. He served as Bishop of Kalamazoo
Roman Catholic Diocese of Kalamazoo
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Kalamazoo is a Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the southwestern portion of the State of Michigan that encompasses Allegan, Van Buren, Berrien, Cass, Saint Joseph, Kalamazoo, Branch, Calhoun, and Barry Counties. The Diocese consists of 46 parishes 13 missions,...
from 1998 to 2009.
Biography
James Murray was born in JacksonJackson, Michigan
Jackson is a city located along Interstate 94 in the south central area of the U.S. state of Michigan, about west of Ann Arbor and south of Lansing. It is the county seat of Jackson County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 33,534...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
to James Albert and Marcella Clare (née Harris) Murray; he has two older brothers, Joseph and William. After attending St. Mary Elementary and High Schools
St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church
St. Mary Star of the Sea is a Catholic parish church located in downtown Jackson, Michigan. The parish was the second in the Jackson area, after St. John the Evangelist. In the fall of 2008, St. Mary Parish merged with St. Stanislaus Kostka Chapel in Jackson, which houses both the Polish...
in Jackson, he studied at Sacred Heart Seminary
Sacred Heart Major Seminary
Sacred Heart Major Seminary is a Catholic institution of higher learning associated with the Archdiocese of Detroit. It is located at 2701 West Chicago Boulevard, at the western edge of the Boston-Edison Historic District in Detroit, Michigan. In 2006-2007, 93 seminarians and over 400 lay...
in Detroit
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
, from where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
), and St. John Provincial Seminary in Plymouth
Plymouth, Michigan
Plymouth is a city in Wayne County of the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 9,132 at the 2010 census. The City of Plymouth is an enclave completely surrounded by Plymouth Charter Township, Michigan.-Geography:...
, earning his Bachelor's in Sacred Theology
Bachelor of Sacred Theology
The Bachelor of Sacred Theology is a graduate-level academic degree in theology.The Bachelor of Sacred Theology is offered by a number of Pontifical Universities. It is sometimes offered as a graduate degree, for students who have already completed a B.A. or other first degree...
. Murray was ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
to the priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
by Bishop Joseph Albers
Joseph H. Albers
Joseph H. Albers D.D. was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1929 at the age of 38, he was consecrated Auxiliary Bishop of Cincinnati, making him one of the youngest Roman Catholic bishops in the country. He continued in this role until he was assigned to establish the new Diocese of Lansing, Michigan...
on June 7, 1958, and then served as parochial vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
of St. Joseph Parish in St. Joseph
St. Joseph, Michigan
St. Joseph is a city in the US state of Michigan. It was incorporated as a village in 1834 and as a city in 1891. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 8,789. It lies on the shore of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the St. Joseph River, about east-northeast of Chicago. It is the county...
until 1961.
He then worked as an assistant pastor
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
at St. Mary Cathedral
Cathedral of Saint Mary in Lansing
St. Mary Cathedral is a cathedral of the Roman Catholic Church in Lansing, Michigan one block north of the Michigan State Capitol. It is the seat of the bishop of the Diocese of Lansing....
, and did pastoral
Parish (Catholic Church)
In the Roman Catholic Church, a parish is the lowest ecclesiastical geographical subdivision: from ecclesiastical province to diocese to deanery to parish.-Requirements:A parish needs two things under common law to become a parish...
work at St. Therese Parish. He received a licentiate in canon law
Licentiate of Canon Law
Licentiate of Canon Law is the title of an advanced graduate degree with canonical effects in the Roman Catholic Church offered by pontifical universities and ecclesiastical faculties of canon law...
from the Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America is a private university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution of higher education founded by the U.S. Catholic bishops...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
in 1964. Murray served as pastor
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
of St. Gerard Parish in Lansing
Lansing, Michigan
Lansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located mostly in Ingham County, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County. The 2010 Census places the city's population at 114,297, making it the fifth largest city in Michigan...
from 1962 to 1973, whence he became rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of St. Mary Cathedral. In addition to his duties as rector, he served as chancellor
Chancellor (ecclesiastical)
Two quite distinct officials of some Christian churches have the title Chancellor.*In some churches, the Chancellor of a diocese is a lawyer who represents the church in legal matters....
, curial
Curia (Roman Catholic Church)
In Roman Catholicism, a curia consists of a group of officials who assist in the governance of a particular Church. These curias range from the relatively simple diocesan curia, to the larger patriarchal curias, to the Roman Curia, which is the central government of the Catholic Church.Other...
moderator
Team of priests in solidum
In 1983 the Catholic Church introduced the possibility of entrusting the pastoral care, of one or more parishes to a team of priests in solidum. This provision in the 1983 Code of Canon Law, which resembles ancient models of pastoral care in the Roman tituli churches with their colleges of priests,...
, and tribunal
Ecclesiastical court
An ecclesiastical court is any of certain courts having jurisdiction mainly in spiritual or religious matters. In the Middle Ages in many areas of Europe these courts had much wider powers than before the development of nation states...
judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
for the Diocese of Lansing
Roman Catholic Diocese of Lansing
The Catholic Diocese of Lansing is located in Lansing, Michigan. It encompasses an area of 6,218 square miles including the counties of Clinton, Eaton, Genesee, Hillsdale, Ingham, Jackson, Lenawee, Livingston, Shiawassee and Washtenaw...
as well. Murray was also a diocesan
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
ecumenical
Catholic Church and ecumenism
The Catholic Church has been heavily involved in the ecumenical movement since the Second Vatican Council .- Before the Second Vatican Council :...
officer, chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
of the Lansing police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
, and sat on several committees of the Michigan Catholic Conference. He was raised to the rank of Honorary Prelate of His Holiness
Monsignor
Monsignor, pl. monsignori, is the form of address for those members of the clergy of the Catholic Church holding certain ecclesiastical honorific titles. Monsignor is the apocopic form of the Italian monsignore, from the French mon seigneur, meaning "my lord"...
in 1993.
On November 18, 1997, Murray was appointed the third Bishop of Kalamazoo
Roman Catholic Diocese of Kalamazoo
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Kalamazoo is a Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the southwestern portion of the State of Michigan that encompasses Allegan, Van Buren, Berrien, Cass, Saint Joseph, Kalamazoo, Branch, Calhoun, and Barry Counties. The Diocese consists of 46 parishes 13 missions,...
by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
. He received his episcopal consecration
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
on January 27, 1998 from Adam Cardinal Maida, with Bishops Paul Donovan
Paul Vincent Donovan
Paul Vincent Donovan was a bishop of the Catholic Church in the United States. He served as the first bishop of the Diocese of Kalamazoo in the state of Michigan from 1971-1994.-Biography:...
and Carl Mengeling
Carl Frederick Mengeling
Carl Frederick Mengeling is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Lansing from 1995 to 2008.-Biography:...
serving as co-consecrators
Consecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
, in St. Augutine Cathedral
Cathedral of Saint Augustine in Kalamazoo
St. Augustine Cathedral is the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and the seat of the Bishop of the Diocese of Kalamazoo....
. He selected as his episcopal motto
Motto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
: "Rejoice in the Lord always" (Phil 4:4).
Upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75, Murray submitted his letter of resignation to Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
in 2007. His resignation was accepted on April 6, 2009, ending an eleven-year period as Bishop. He served as Apostolic Administrator
Apostolic Administrator
An apostolic administrator in the Roman Catholic Church is a prelate appointed by the Pope to serve as the ordinary for an apostolic administration...
of Kalamazoo until the installation
Enthronement
An enthronement is a ceremony of inauguration, involving a person—usually a monarch or religious leader—being formally seated for the first time upon their throne. This ritual is generally distinguished from a coronation because there is no crown or other regalia that is physically...
of his successor, Paul J. Bradley
Paul J. Bradley
Paul Joseph Bradley is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the fourth and current Bishop of Kalamazoo.-Early life and ministry:...
, on June 6, 2009.
Within the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is the episcopal conference of the Catholic Church in the United States. Founded in 1966 as the joint National Conference of Catholic Bishops and United States Catholic Conference, it is composed of all active and retired members of the Catholic...
, he formerly sat on the Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Abuse. The Bishop is a member of the Committee for the American College of Louvain
The American College of the Immaculate Conception
The American College of the Immaculate Conception, or the American College at Louvain, was a Roman Catholic seminary in Leuven, Belgium, which operated under the auspices of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops...
as well.