Galway native Fr Nicholas Murray (73) passed away on Holy Thursday last after a long illness.
Ordained in 1962, in the following year Fr Murray was assigned to the Philippines, where he spent the next twenty-two years working in Luzon parishes and later as chaplain and director of Student Catholic Action in the Archdiocese of Manila.
His leadership skills and his capacity for administration were soon noted and he served, in succession, as a member of the Director's Council in the Philippines, District Superior of Luzon, Vice-Director, and as Director of the Philippine Region from 1981 to 1985.
He was in office during the famous 'Negros Nine' case.
Assigned to Ireland in 1985, he spent two years fostering vocations and was then appointed Director of the Irish Region.
At the society's General Chapter in 1988, he was elected Superior General.
He served for six years, and was then re-elected for a further term in 1994, something that had not happened since the early years of the society.
In 2000 after a brief sabbatical, he asked to be assigned to China.
He completed a course in teaching English as a second language and under the auspices of AITECE was assigned for two years to Sichuan International Studies University in Chongqing.
In 2005 he spent some time helping out in his native Diocese of Clonfert.
In 2008 he was diagnosed with a form of Leukaemia.
His funeral mass took place on Easter Sunday.
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