Navan-born priest who interviewed Nixon after Watergate

Navan native Fr Jim Bradley was described as a man of great accomplishments and human qualities by the Bishop of Leeds, Arthur Roche, in St Mary's Church, Navan, last week. The bishop, a past student of Fr Bradley's, was one of those who had gathered in Navan to celebrate the golden jubilee of the Navan priest's ordination last Wednesday morning. Bishop Roche listed these accomplishments and qualities: priest, teacher, journalist, sportsman, referee at county, national and international levels, and friend. "Most people remember where they were on 22nd November 1963 when that awful news came from Dallas of President Kennedy's death," the bishop said. "I was on detention - and I can't remember for what - but I know who put me there," he light-heartedly recalled. Bishop Roche was joined by the Bishop of Meath, Dr Michael Smith, Navan clergy, and Fr Michael Reardon, a Limerick native who is pastor in Saint Bruno's Catholic Church in Whittier, California, where Fr Jim, a member of the Society of our Divine Saviour, also known as the Salvatorians, works. Fr Reardon delivered the homily at the Mass in St Mary's, where he said that anybody whose lives had been touched by Fr Jim over the past 50 years were the better for it. Jim Bradley was the first baby born in Emmet Terrace, Navan, in August 1931, after his parents, Larry and Bridget, were allocated one of the newly constructed homes there. Fr Reardon said that, while in Lourdes, Jim made a decision that would change his life, and made a commitment to God that he would become a priest. And to stay committed to that for over 50 years is a real challenge that Fr Jim has carried out, Fr Reardon added. The Navan man has been in St Bruno's parish for six years, and the two men are a great support to each other, and "that's what we need in our priesthood," he continued. Fr Bradley himself looked back on the "wonderful days, wonderful years" that he has spent as a priest, and remembered especially all those who had passed on and who had been part of his life. These included Fr Joe Caldwell, a native of Randlestown, who worked in Australia and who was asked to give the bishops' retreat there on three occasions. Among those he welcomed to Wednesday's Mass were Vera Ryan, a Sister in the Salvatorians, who is based in the Salvator Mundi Hospital in Rome, and May Nelson of Emmet Terrace, who is "almost 100" and worked with his late mother in Marsh's Clothing Factory many years ago. Over 50 people from California joined the people of Navan for last week's celebration. A certificate of papal blessing was received from Pope Benedict, celebrating his 60th anniversary on the same day. Family members and friends took part in the ceremony. Fr Bradley was professed in 1955 and ordained in 1961. He joined the Salvatorians in England, where he began his studies at Nicholas Breakspear College in Hertfordshire. Nicholas Breakspear was the first, and only Englishman, to become Pope - Adrian IV. "He had one flaw in his episcopacy - he promised Ireland to England as a gift - I got out of there fairly quick," laughed Fr Bradley. Jim Bradley transferred to Chester, where he studied for four years, and then at University College, Swansea, Wales, for his teaching and educational qualifications. There followed a 10-year stint at the junior seminary, teaching mathematics and scripture (and producing three bishops!) followed by another decade at the Catholic High School in Chester. The Meath native has been heavily involved in sports, which he loved, and held a referee's badge for 18 seasons. He also coached at the highest levels within school sports, and became coach manager of the football team of England and Wales in the International Catholic Schoolsport Federation, (FISEC) competitions for seven years. "Some great players came through at that time," Fr Bradley recalls "including Ian Rush of Liverpool." His team won the European Championships on one occasion, and was second another year. Opposition included teams from Germany, Spain, Italy, France, Spain and Malta. Fr Bradley was also a sports columnist for the Fleet Street, London-based Catholic Universe newspaper for 13 years. Personalities he met and interviewed over these years included legendary names like Matt Busby, Bill Shankly and Alf Ramsey. And while David Frost was running around looking for Richard Nixon, Fr Jim was one of the first to talk to the US President after the Watergate scandal. "I was lucky to get that interview," he said. "I was teaching at the time in Chester, and knew I was going to be in America for the summer, working in a parish. I wrote to the White House to give details of the dates I would be in America, and on the second day there, a call came from one of his staff asking where I was born, how long I was writing and topics to be asked about. "They asked me 'Do you belong to any subversive organisation?', and I answered 'yes', which led to a silence. 'Then I said 'the Catholic Church'. It created a laugh and I got the interview." Fr Bradley met Nixon in San Clemente, California. In November 1994, Fr Bradley was elected a life member to ther National Union of Journalists (NUJ), London, in recognition of his contributionn to journalism over a 30-year span. He published a number of books, 'Only on Sunday', 'Anyday', and 'Biddy', a memoir of his childhood growing up in Navan, named after his mother, Bridget. Fr Bradley worked in Sallynoggin parish in Dublin in the 1990s, and was elected Provincial Superior of the British/Irish Province of the Society of the Divine Saviour. For health reasons, he transferred to the US about 15 years ago, and now works in St Bruno's Parish in California.