 James
Gerard Tracey was born in 1961. After leaving school he was employed
at John McGavigan and Company Ltd, Kirkintilloch, working initially
in sales then in the Production Cost Planning department. He left
the company in 1980 to begin his studies for the priesthood at
St Andrew’s College, Drygrange. After his Philosophy studies
he took two years out, working in his home parish, with the Little
Way Association in London and returning to McGavigan’s for
a time. He resumed his studies at Drygrange in 1984, moving to
Gillis College, Edinburgh, in 1986. He was ordained as Deacon
on 29th March 1987 and as Priest on 2nd February 1988 –
both celebrations taking place in his home parish of St Machan’s,
Lennoxtown. After ordination he returned to Our Lady of Loreto,
Musselburgh, where he had served as Deacon. In September 1988
he was appointed to Holy Cross, Edinburgh, as Assistant Priest
to Bishop James Monaghan, while also serving as Secretary to Archbishop
O’Brien. He remained in Holy Cross until 1991 (his Radio
2 years: 88-91!) when he was appointed as Assistant Priest at
St Mary’s Cathedral, Edinburgh. In 1993 he was appointed
as Parish Priest of Our Lady of Lourdes, Dunfermline and became
Archdiocesan Vocations Director. He remained in these posts until
1998, when he was appointed as Vicar Episcopal of Education in
January and Parish Priest of Holy Cross, Edinburgh in April. In
2004 he was also appointed as Parish Priest of St Margaret Mary’s,
Edinburgh, in addition to his other responsibilities. In February
2006 he was appointed as Parish Priest of St Patrick’s,
Kilsyth and Administrator of St Paul’s, Milton of Campsie
and St Dominic’s, Torrance, becoming Parish Priest of St
Paul’s and St Dominic’s in September 2006. This ended
in September 2008 when Fr Kevin
Murray was appointed parish priest of St Paul’s and St
Dominic’s leaving Fr Tracey as parish priest of St Patrick's. |
