Issue of Nov. 22, 2007
Issue of Nov. 22, 2007
Diocesan scholarship program honors
Msgr. McMurtrie
In honor of the late Msgr. James W. McMurtie, a strong proponent of
Catholic education, Bishop Paul S. Loverde recently announced a new scholarship
program bearing the monsignor’s name. Bishop Loverde noted, “The
impact of Msgr. McMurtrie’s commitment to the education of our
youth is alive today in the countless men and women he impacted. It is
only fitting, then, that his enthusiasm and zeal for the Church’s
educational mission continue to benefit generations of students through
the establishment of the Monsignor James A. McMurtrie Scholarship Fund.”
The scholasrhip will initially provide $40,000 for either 16 elementary
school students or 9 high school students throughout the diocese. According
to the Diocesan Office of Development, because the program is an endowment
fund, the amount of the scholarship will grow annually. Within 10 years,
the scholarship will help more than 150 students.
“The bishop wanted to do something to memorialize the work (Msgr. McMurtrie)
did and allow young people and families to reflect and learn from his life
lived in the Catholic faith,” said Bob Mueller, diocesan director of
development.
Msgr. McMurtrie was ordained in 1962 in the Diocese of Richmond, but
began serving the Diocese of Arlington at its creation in 1974.
He served as principal of Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington
from 1972-77. During his first year, O’Connell became the first
coeducational Catholic high school in the Arlington Diocese.
Enrollment escalated during his five years there.
He was pastor of St. Louis Parish in Alexandria, Holy Spirit Parish in
Annandale, and St. Theresa Parish in Ashburn. In December 1982 he was
elevated to the rank of monsignor by Pope John Paul II. Msgr. McMurtrie
served as diocesan administrator from 1998-99. He was serving as pastor
of St. Agnes in Arlington when he died in October 2003 at the age of
66.
Alex McMurtrie, Msgr. McMurtrie’s brother, said he was “honored
and flattered,” to hear the news about the scholarship named after
his brother. “It’s a great thing the bishop has chosen to
do,” he said.
“Jim was a great believer in the benefits of education ... particularly
of a Catholic education,” said McMurtrie, a parishioner of St. Edward
Parish in Richmond. “Within the Diocese of Arlington there remains
much evidence of his effort to raise and maintain high standards of education
within the diocese,” he said.
“He was a great guy,” said McMurtrie, of his younger brother. He
called his brother’s unexpected death, a “big loss for the diocese.”
The scholarship, made possible by the Rooted in Faith ~ Forward in Hope
campaign, will provide tuition assistance to those students with a financial
need who wish to attend a Catholic school in the diocese.
To be eligible for the scholarship candidates must be accepted as a new
student or be currently enrolled in a diocesan school and must be practicing
Catholics.
Henrietta Gomes can be reached at hgomes@catholicherald.com.
Joan Cargill, principal of St. Joseph School, accepted a No Child Left Behind — Blue Ribbon School award at the ceremony in Arlington last week. (GRETCHEN R. CROWE | CATHOLIC HERALD)