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Styles of
**James Albert Murray**
Styles of; James Albert Murray
Reference style	His Excellency; The Most Reverend;
Spoken style	Your Excellency
Religious style	Bishop

His Excellency, The Most Reverend

James Albert Murray
His Excellency, The Most Reverend; James Albert Murray
Bishop of Kalamazoo
See	Diocese of Kalamazoo
Appointed	November 18, 1997
Installed	January 27, 1998
Term ended	April 6, 2009
Predecessor	Alfred John Markiewicz
Successor	Paul J. Bradley
Orders
Ordination	June 7, 1958; by Joseph H. Albers
Consecration	January 27, 1998; by Adam Maida, Paul Vincent Donovan, and Carl Frederick Mengeling
Personal details
Born	July 5, 1932; Jackson, Michigan, US
Died	June 5, 2020 (aged 87); Kalamazoo, Michigan, US
Denomination	Roman Catholic Church
Education	Sacred Heart Major Seminary; St. John's Provincial Seminary; Catholic University of America
Motto	Rejoice in the Lord always

James Albert Murray (July 5, 1932 – June 5, 2020) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Kalamazoo in Michigan from 1998 to 2009.

Biography

Early life

James Murray was born in Jackson, Michigan, to James Albert and Marcella Clare (née Harris) Murray. He has two older brothers, Joseph and William. James Murray attended St. Mary's elementary and high schools in Jackson. In high school, he enjoyed boxing and baseball, and was elected senior class president.^[1]

After deciding to become a priest, Murray entered Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts. Murray then attended St. John's Provincial Seminary in Plymouth, Michigan, earning his Bachelor of Sacred Theology degree.^[1]

Priesthood

Murray was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Lansing by Bishop Joseph Albers on June 7, 1958. After his ordination, Murray was assigned as parochial vicar of St. Joseph Parish in St. Joseph, Michigan, serving there until 1961. That year, he was transferred to be an assistant pastor at St. Mary Cathedral Parish. ^[2]^[1]

In 1962, Murray went to Washington, D.C., to attend the Catholic University of America School of Canon Law. He received a Licentiate of Canon Law there in 1964. After returning to Lansing, Murray was appointed assistant pastor of St. Therese Parish. He was transferred to St. Gerard Parish in Lansing in 1968. In 1973, he was appointed rector of St. Mary Cathedral.^[2]

In 1968. Murray was appointed chancellor of the diocese, a position he would hold until 1997.^[2] He also served as moderator of the curia, tribunal judge, and ecumenical officer. Murray served as chaplain of the Lansing Police Department and sat on several committees of the Michigan Catholic Conference.^[2] He was raised to the rank of honorary prelate of his holiness in 1993.^[1]

Bishop of Kalamazoo

On November 18, 1997, Murray was appointed as the third bishop of the Diocese of Kalamazoo by Pope John Paul II. He received his episcopal consecration on January 27, 1998, from Cardinal Adam Maida, with Bishops Paul Donovan and Carl Mengeling serving as co-consecrators, in St. Augustine Cathedral in Kalamazoo. He selected as his episcopal motto: "Rejoice in the Lord always".^[2]

in 2006. Murray released the “Diocesan Pastoral Plan for Hispanic Latino Ministry.” He also established the diocese Trauma Recovery Program for victims of childhood trauma. Murray served as an advisor to the Michigan Catholic Conference (MCC) and wrote its program on assisted suicide education in 1993.^[1] Within the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Murray sat on the Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Abuse. Murray was a member of the committee for the American College of Louvain as well.

Retirement and legacy

On reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75 for bishops in 2007, Murray submitted his letter of resignation to Pope Benedict XVI. His resignation was accepted on April 6, 2009.^[2] He served as apostolic administrator of Kalamazoo until the installation of his successor, Bishop Paul J. Bradley, on June 6, 2009.

James Murray died in Kalamazoo on June 5, 2020, at the age of 87.^[2]