October 13, 2018
Passed away peacefully in White Rock, B.C. on October 13, 2018 at the age of 99. Rev. James Fagan will be lovingly remembered by brother John Fagan (Carol) and sisters Clare Woodruff and Bernice Hughes, sister-in-law Anne Fagan and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Father Jim was born in Vancouver, B.C. the eldest of 12 children. Baptized in St. Augustine's Church, he attended school at St. Patrick's and Vancouver College. After Grade 10, Fr. Jim decided to leave school to help his father, James, who was a mining engineer and promoter. He went to work at the gold mine in Shoal Bay, near Campbell River on Vancouver Island, where he stayed for five years, becoming a journeyman miner. After completing high school in 1942 and philosophy at the Seminary of Christ the King in 1946, Fr. Jim was sent to St. Joseph's Seminary in Edmonton to finish his theology. Fr. Jim was ordained March 25, 1950 by Archbishop William Duke at Holy Rosary Cathedral in Vancouver.
Over his 46 years of service as a priest in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Vancouver, Jim's pastorates included St. Margaret's Parish (Ocean Falls) from 1951-1963; St. Mary's (Chilliwack): from 1963-69; St. Helen's (Burnaby) from 1969-73; and St. Edmund's in North Vancouver, 1973-78. Fr. Jim had a special affection for his period of service in Ocean Falls - St. Margaret's parish that included the communities of Bella Bella, Bella Coola and Alert Bay - which he served by boat. With over 3,200 km of coastline, the ports of call within the parish included logging camps, First Nations, and lighthouse keepers. In 1978, Father Fagan moved to Star of the Sea Parish in White Rock, where he served until his retirement in 1997. He founded Star of the Sea Elementary School and was the driving force for construction of Good Shepherd Church which opened in 1994.
Fr. Jim spent much of his retirement with dear friends and family in White Rock and Mission Viejo, California. Fr. Jim was an avid golfer and competed in numerous tournaments on the Canadian Seniors Gold Tour. He was also an enthusiastic advocate for growth of the game among youth in the lower mainland.
The Prayer Vigil will be held Sunday, Oct. 28, at 4 pm at Good Shepherd Church, 2250 150 Street, South Surrey. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Good Shepherd Church on Monday, Oct. 29, at 1 pm with Archbishop Michael Miller officiating.