Fr James Norris RIP
Fr James (Jim) Douglas Norris died on 6th October, 2007 in Rotorua, New Zealand. He was born on 23 April 1923 to Harold Joseph Norris and Louisa Anne Newman, the eldest of eleven children.
Following his primary education at St Michael's Rotorua, he studied at St Kevin's College [Christian Brothers], Oamaru. In 1939-1940 he worked in the Forestry Department and as clerk in a solicitor's office in Rotorua. In 1941 he began his seminary education at St Columbans. Essendon, Victoria and completed his theology studies at Corpus Christi, Werribee, Victoria in 1947. He was ordained a Columban Missionary Priest on 27th July 1947 in Hamilton, New Zealand by Bishop James Liston.
His initial mission appointment was to China but it was changed to Japan and he arrived there on 16 July 1948 to begin language studies in Fukuoka. Apart from six years in Kanagawa Prefecture near Yokohama he served in parishes in Fukuoka Diocese on the island of Kyushu for the remaining 50 years before retiring to Rotorua, New Zealand in October 2004.
He celebrated his Golden Jubilee of ordination in 1997 and recently his sixtieth anniversary in Rotorua with family and friends, including several from Japan. He is much loved by many former parishioners and friends in Japan for his faithful service to God and to the Church and for his kind pastoral care. He is well known to many in Australia and New Zealand for the colour he brought to the many stories of his life and work published in the "Far East" magazine.
Leaving Japan for retirement in New Zealand in 2004 he wrote: "Words cannot convey adequately what a man feels when he pulls up his roots and leaves Japan after 56 years... My predominant feeling is joy and gratitude to God, to the Japanese Christians and to my Columban confreres,"
We remember him for his bright personality, his tenacious faith and his humour.
His funeral Mass took place Thursday 11th October at St Michael’s Church, Rotorua. .
MAY HE REST IN PEACE