Rev. James F. Webb S.J.

Died on August 9, 2012, at René Goupil House (Jesuit Infirmary), Pickering, Ontario. He was 68 years of age and in his 48th year of consecrated life in The Society of Jesus. Jim was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia on July 29, 1944, son of J. Hilus Webb and Mary Somers. He entered the Society after completing his B.Sc. from St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia. He followed the Jesuit program of preparation and studies and was ordained a priest on June 9, 1973. From 1973 to 1986 this activist priest lived at West Avenue in Toronto, a house dedicated to work with the poor and the search for justice. He co-founded the Jesuit Centre for Social Faith and Justice and was involved in many initiatives, including a founding director of the Taskforce on Churches and Corporate Responsibility; The Catholic New Times newspaper; South Riverdale Community Health Centre; Canadian Alternative Investment Cooperative, among others. From 1986 to 2008 Fr. Jim continued his commitment to the poor in Jamaica. While there he became culturally at home and served in a number of ways, Pastor of St. Peter Claver Church (1986); Chairman of St. Mary’s Rural Development Project; Founding director for Citizens Action for Free and Fair Elections; Regional Superior of the Society for Jamaica, among others. In 2009, he received the National Union of Cooperative Society Award for helping in the founding of the St. Peter Claver Women’s Housing Cooperative. In 2008, he returned to Canada to become the Provincial Superior of the English Canada Province of the Jesuits. He served in that position until his returning cancer required that he resign in May 2012. He moved to René Goupil House for palliative care until his death. Jim was well appreciated for his deep insight, commitment to justice and pastoral care and his fine sense of humour. He will be missed by his family and Jesuit companions. He is survived by his sister Mildred LeBlanc and his brothers Hugh and Tom Webb. Visitation at Rosar-Morrison Funeral Home & Chapel, 467 Sherbourne St (South of Wellesley) in Toronto, Tuesday August 14, 2012 from 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. and from 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. Wake service 8 p.m. Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 10 o’clock on Wednesday August 15, 2012 at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Toronto. Interment in the Jesuit Cemetery, Guelph, Ontario, Wednesday August 15, 2012. In memory of Father Webb donations may be made to the Jesuit Development Office, 43 Queen’s Park Crescent East Toronto, ON M5S 2C3