August 21, 1938

Father James Hayes

Father James Hayes was born on May 9, 1856 at Preston, Lancashire, England. He prepared for the priesthood at St. Cuthbert College, Durham, England and was ordained for the Diocese of Liverpool on August 6, 1882. After eight years he came to the United States to be a missionary, first in the Dakotas for six years and then in the Diocese of Wichita. His one assignment for twenty-six years was to St. James Parish in Augusta from which he covered missions in Wellington, El Dorado, Perth, Cassody and Spring Branch. After his retirement he lived at St. Francis Hospital and was confined to his sick room for the last two years of his life. He died on August 21, 1938 at 82 years of age and with 56 years in the priesthood…36 of those years in the Diocese of Wichita. “He was of Irish descent, had a gift of humor and a fine capacity for making friends –and keeping them.” (The Catholic Advance, Aug. 27, 1938) Msgr. William Farrell celebrated the funeral Mass for Father Hayes at the cathedral and Fr. Leon McNeill preached the sermon. Father Hayes was buried in Augusta.