
James P. Noonan, MM
Characteristically calm, soft-spoken, amiable, and smiling, Fr. James P. Noonan was a devoted Maryknoll priest whose life was marked by leadership, compassion, and a deep commitment to serving poor communities across the globe. As head priest of Compostela, Davao de Oro, parishioners looked up to him as pious, often exuding an aura of devoutness and love for his flock.
Tall, with velvety voice, and deeply admired, he always had time chatting with visitors, listening to their stories, and giving them advice. His missionary journey spanned nearly six decades, during which he served in various regions, including Asia, Africa, and the United States.
Born in Shelburne, Vermont, USA, on August 1, 1934, James Purcell Noonan, the son of Robert Noonan and Catharine Collins, attended St. John’s Seminary College in Little Rock, Arkansas, then entered St. John’s Seminary in Brighton, Maine. On January 30, 1960, he was ordained for the Diocese of Burlington, Vermont.
As part of his religious formation, he was assigned to St. John the Evangelist in Northfield, Vermont for a year before entering the Maryknoll Novitiate. As a priest, he took his perpetual oath to Maryknoll on June 30, 1965 at the Center House in Davao City.
Fr. Noonan’s first Philippine assignment was as an associate pastor at St. James the Apostle Church in Cateel, Davao Oriental. His next duty would be as pastor of a parish with the same name in Compostela, Davao de Oro. Years later, he directed the Cursillo movement for the Diocese of Tagum. In 1972, he was elected as the country’s regional superior of the Maryknoll for six years. After that, he became first delegate to the Seventh General Chapter in 1978 and was elected superior general of the Maryknoll Society, which he held until 1984.
Fr. Noonan’s new assignment after serving as head of the General Council was Udon Thani, Thailand, again, at St. James the Apostle Parish in Ban Thin and at the same time as director at the Agricultural Training Center in Nong Khai. In 1988, he was elected as unit coordinator for Thailand and, two years later, attended the Ninth and Tenth General Chapters.
In his third southeast Asian ministry in Cambodia, where his missionary endeavors were diverse and impactful, he started a center for skill training for landmine victims. He managed programs providing outreach to people with AIDS named ‘Seedling of Hope,’ demonstrating his commitment to addressing pressing health crises. Additionally, he played a pivotal role in responding to humanitarian needs, such as when he facilitated assistance to communities in dire situations, exemplifying his dedication to global concerns.
In 2009, he was appointed to the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, a three-year ministry he resplendently described: “These years of mission with Maryknoll have been a great source of happiness and have provided many new experiences. To have the opportunity of starting a new mission response at the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns in Washington, DC is a great joy and privilege.”
After this, he was transferred to the Africa Region in 2012 and worked in South Sudan. Two years later, he moved to the U.S. Region and worked with the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns and representation to ECOSOC (Economic and Social Council) in the United Nations. In 2016, he was appointed to the Pastoral Visitors Team.
His eyewitness experience in marginalized areas would affect Fr. Noonan personally, especially in assignments where poverty was equated with inhumanity. As a consequence, he started smoking and, as a way of calming his nerves before bedtime, sipped wine to help him sleep.
On May 7, 2018, Fr. Noonan passed away at Hudson Valley Hospital in Cortlandt Manor, New York, at the age of 83. His legacy endures through the countless lives he touched and the lasting impact of his leadership within the Maryknoll community. (34)
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