James Corboy, SJ

James Corboy, SJ I Clongowes 1931-1935

James Corboy, SJ (1916-2004), first bishop of Monze, Zambia, was a native of Caherconlish, County Limerick, who attended Clongowes in 1931-5. He studied history in UCD and went afterwards to Rome, where he obtained his doctorate in theology. He was ordained in 1948. He returned to teach theology at Milltown Park, where he was rector in 1962, when appointed first bishop of the diocese of Monze in Zambia (then Northern Rhodesia), where an Irish Jesuit mission had been established. It was a daunting challenge, to which he rose with commitment and great administrative skill. His diocese was the size of Ireland, he knew nothing of Africa and he had to grasp and implement the radical changes of the Second Vatican Council, which he attended. His most immediate concern was to increase the prosperity of the Tonga people, who were farmers of cattle and maize. He formed a diocesan development department of clergy and laity for agricultural and social improvement, and set up the first credit union in the country. He established strong links with aid agencies to secure funding for development projects, and the recruitment of teachers, social workers and medical personnel. Irish congregations were invited in to provide schools, training units, a hospital and clinics. Declaring that the church in Zambia must become a church of the laity if it was to free itself from being an adjunct of the church in Europe, he established a pastoral centre to cater for every sort of training for laity. He proved a shrewd administrator and fundraiser, who mixed easily with all sections of society. In personal life, he remained the simplest and most unpretentious of men, never happier than in his vegetable garden. He retired to Ireland in 1991.