Archbishop James Martin Hayes

Born in Halifax in 1924, the eldest son of the late Leonard James and Rita (Bates) Hayes, he received his education at St. Thomas Aquinas School, St. Mary’s High School, St. Mary’s College, and in 1943 entered Holy Heart Seminary. He was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop McNally on June 15, 1947.

Father Hayes’ first pastoral assignment was as a curate at St. Mary’s Cathedral. It was at this time that he became a regular visitor at the hospitals, bringing the sacraments to those who were ill and accompanying them and their families with prayer. He spent three years in Rome (1954-57), earning his doctorate in Canon Law, and perfecting his French, Latin and Italian. Returning to Halifax in 1957 by ship, he met many Italian families immigrating to Canada, and recognized the need to provide them with pastoral care; so he established a chaplaincy to the Italian community of Halifax, with which he maintained a pastoral connection to present day. In 1957, he was named Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Halifax and assistant at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish and in 1964, he became Rector of St. Mary’s Cathedral Basilica. James Martin Hayes was ordained Titular Bishop of Reperi on Easter Tuesday, April 20, 1965, and accepted the responsibilities of Auxiliary Bishop in the Archdiocese of Halifax. Following the death of Archbishop Gerald Berry, he was appointed Archbishop of Halifax. Archbishop Hayes attended the first session of the Second Vatican Council as Archbishop Berry’s secretary, and was himself, a Council Father for the final session in 1965. Archbishop Hayes shepherded the Archdiocese of Halifax from 1967 to 1990. During this time he also served as President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (1987-89); was Chair of the Episcopal Commission for Liturgy, and member of Canada’s National Council on Liturgy. He served on numerous other committees and was a delegate for two Synods of Bishops. In 1984, he hosted the visit of Pope John Paul II to our province. He was an advocate for inter-religious dialogue, for which he received the recognition of the local Jewish community. He was strongly committed to Christian Unity and was one of the founders of the Atlantic School of Theology. He also served as Chancellor of Saint Mary’s University. Archbishop Hayes retired as Archbishop of Halifax in 1990 and he then entered into full-time ministry caring for the sick and the dying, as chaplain in Palliative Care at the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre in Halifax until his retirement from this ministry in 2012. Archbishop Hayes received a number of honorary doctorates (St. Mary’s University, Mount St. Vincent University, the University of King’s College, St. Francis Xavier University, Université Sainte-Anne, St. Thomas University and Atlantic School of Theology) as well as other honours and medals, including his induction to the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity in 2009 as Grand Officer First Class, the highest order of merit bestowed by the Italian government to a non-Italian citizen. In 2016, he was honoured by the Atlantic School of Theology with the first annual James M. Hayes Symposium on the pastoral care of the sick and dying. Archbishop Hayes is survived by his sister Marie Whalen, a niece, Mary Rideout, both of St. John’s NL; nephews Timothy, Hamilton ON; Patrick and Daniel, Toronto ON; John and James, St. John’s, NL and many grandnieces and grandnephews. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by a brother, Rev. John Hayes and a sister, Sr. Elizabeth (Betty) Hayes, SC. Funeral rites will be celebrated at St. Mary’s Cathedral Basilica, Halifax beginning on Wednesday, August 3rd with the Rite of Reception of the Body at 6pm, followed by visitation until 10pm. Thursday, August 4th, visitation in the Cathedral will begin at 10am ending with Evening Prayer Vigil at 7:30pm. The Mass of Christian Burial, with Archbishop Anthony Mancini presiding, will be at 11am on Friday, August 5th, 2016. A reception will immediately follow in the Cathedral Hall. The committal will take place after the reception at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Lower Sackville.Please note that all masses in the Cathedral will be cancelled during this time. Memorial Donations may be made to the St. Mary’s Cathedral Basilica Foundation established for the upkeep of the church he so long served as Rector and Archbishop.Funeral Arrangements are under the direction of Snow’s Funeral Home.