Rev. James Butler

OBITUARY FROM THE SCOTTISH CATHOLIC DIRECTORY

James Butler was born on the 2nd December, 1904, at Donagh-more, Co. Limerick. He completed his secondary education in St.Munchin's College and, later on, at the Sacred Heart College, Limerick, before going to St. Patrick's College, Carlow, in 1922, to begin his more immediate studies for the priesthood.Three yearslater, when he began his theological studies in the Senior House, he was appointed a prefect to Knockbeg College, the Junior Seminary of the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin.This office very muchincreased the prestige of the student who held it. As a student, James Butler was very popular with his fellows, largely on account of his pleasant and kindly disposition, but,without doubt, also on accountof his quite outstanding athletic ability. He was popular, too, in the eyes of authority because of the carnest and diligent way in which he sought to prepare himself for the priesthood. He was ordained on the 9th June, 1929, and, before the month was out, he found himself on the mission, in Glasgow, having been appointed to the parish of the Sacred Heart, Bridgeton. There he remained for fourteen years,discharging with a rare zeal thoseordinary duties of a junior curate in a busy city parish. The Boys' Guild and, later, the Women's Sacred Heart Confraternity, were the objects of his special care.To the particularly difficult task of caring for adolescent boys, he brought to bear tremendous enthusiasm and remarkable singleness of purpose. And of course he was successful. In later years, many of his boys attributed their success in life to his sound priestly guidance, and it was noticeable that they were well represented at his obsequies.In 1943 he was transferred to the parish of the Holy Family at Mossend and, warm-hearted as he was, he felt the wrench on leaving. However, his feelings were quickly subjected to his sense of duty and the people of Mossend were beginning to know and love their senior curate. In 1949, the Diocese of Motherwel having already been established, it was decided to open a new parish at Bellshill. and Father Butler was appointed its first parish priest.Once again he was given a peculiarly difficult task and one which was sure to make great demands on his stamina. A new church and presbytery had to be built and the country was still suffering from the effects of the war. As he himself was to say afterwards, it was "a story of permits, of shortages, of heart-breaks, of hopes and despair. But our Faith was in God Almighty," and all obstacles were surmounted. The difficulties served but as a challenge which his courageous and enthusiastic spirit could not ignore, and two years later, in 1951, he had the great joy of seeing his new church solemnly opened. It is a fine building, one of the finest of the post war churches and stands as a monument to his energy and zeal.  It was during these building years that the deterioration in his health first became apparent, but the climax did not come until 1954, when on returning from Lourdes, he suffered a complete break-do and toe the onward his he had esca.d, be mut curately.so, and from then onwards his activities had A second heart attack in the summer of 1958. reduced him to thestatus of a semi-invalid and, despite every care and strict adherence to medical advice, a third attack in October proved fatal. It was God's will. Over two hundred priests assisted at his Requiem and heard Monsignor Rogers pay eloquent tribute to the great work he had done."It can be truly said of this priest that he quite literally killed himself with hard work. Father Butler enjoyed a well developed personality and was withal a very happy person. Very much a man's man, he was rich in the priestly virtues and will long be remembered by both priests and people especially for his great kindliness and sincerity. He died, perhaps not full of years, but full of good works and well loved, and the Church is the poorer by his passing. May he rest in peace.