Remembering Br James McBride FMS: A Tribute by Former Pupil Br Tim Leen
- maristbrothers
- Jul 24
- 4 min read
On 14 July, Br James McBride FMS passed away in Aotearoa New Zealand. Below is the eulogy delivered at his funeral by Br Tim Leen, a former pupil.
I first met Brother James McBride in 1975 when I was a postulant living at Marist House Nae Nae in Lower Hutt. James was in the Napier Primary School community in Hawke's Bay. Four postulants and I decided to rent a car and go touring around the Marist communities in the North Island as part of our “postulancy programme.” We were five young men - all smokers, with long hair and loud music. Very normal for young men in the mid-seventies. We arrived in Napier to what appeared to be a group of “elderly” Marist Brothers in black soutanes who were all in their rooms by the end of dinner. What a sight and shock we must have been to this group we considered “elderly men in black.” James was such a gentle, wonderful host to us that weekend though he must have been filled with such confusion looking at this motley bunch.
This was the first time I was to know a man named ‘James’ by the three distinctive words. Gracious, Grateful and a Gentleman. For the next fifty years, I knew James only by these three words. A man who never spoke an unkind word and who never missed an opportunity to express his gratitude even for the smallest act of kindness, such as a visit to the Rest Home (where he spend his last years).
James was one of the last true Marist Brothers branded with the old trademark of ‘simplicity.’ He delighted in living Marist simplicity. He lived the Marist Pillars with a smile on his face and without ever preaching about them. He was not a modern-day religious attending meetings and conferences and dining out at airport lounges. His happiness was based on a simple and regular living of religious life. And this brought him peace that he radiated to everyone.
James had one highlight every week while living his many years in Lower Hutt. A simple, regular excursion every Friday. He would use his ‘Gold Card’ for a free train ride into Wellington after 9 am followed by a time in the Wellington library reading the newspaper from Greymouth (his hometown). Once the local gossip had been absorbed, then off to McDonald’s for a free pensioner’s coffee. Then back on the train to Lower Hutt for another free ride before the three o’clock cut-off. Back to the Brother’s house to pick up his golf clubs and then off to the golf course for a round of eight holes before home for dinner. For James, this was his simple way of celebrating the end of the week and relaxing …. and no charge!
James was my first principal at Mary Street in Invercargill. I think it was his last year as principal. Here I came to know him by another name “The Charmer.” Parents would sometimes come to school upset about something. Ten minutes behind closed doors with James and they came out like pussy cats licking their lips with milk. The ‘charmer’ had won them over again through his graciousness and gentleness. I, however, still had some distant respect for him and walked cautiously. I wanted to take my class on a camp into Doubtful Sounds for a week but I took weeks to raise the topic with him, Eventually, I fronted up and blurted out the request, expecting a good old fashioned ‘put down.’ He simply looked at me, smiled and said, “On one condition. You stay on and take my class afterwards for the same camp.” We became lifelong friends from that time onwards. The same pattern of lifelong friendships James formed with former pupils, Brothers in community, parents of students, golfing partners, local parishioners, caregivers at Aroha.
In my years away from New Zealand, every month, James would visit my mother in her home in Taita and later, he was her regular visitor in the Rest Home. Her room was opposite the room that James occupied in the same place. My mother looked forward to the coming of this gracious gentleman and he was always grateful for the twenty dollar note slipped into his hand as he left. James was not a high-flyer, a trendsetter or a Koru Club Member. He was just one of those Marist Brothers faithful to his prayer life and the Eucharist, his mission and who loved living a simple religious life faithfully. And of course, he so loved his Brothers in community.
Before leaving for Kiribati on my return from Cambodia, I went to visit James. I opened his door and there was that huge smile that had greeted me over the last fifty years since the cheeky visit as a postulant. I asked him if he wanted to come to Auckland to be with the Brothers. He could have answered me in many different ways. He simply looked up, smiled and said, “Tim, I am very content here.” And he was to the end.
A simple, gracious gentleman filled with gratitude to the end. Thank you for being an outstanding long-term Juniorate and Novitiate formator in New Zealand, Australia and Fiji, a committed community man, teacher, principal, and one of our best golfers. But mainly, for being a simple, faithful friend to us all.
Written by Br Tim Leen
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