Page 50 - Bulletin 13 2009

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Father Harold Doran (b. 1902 Cape Town – d. 1971 St. James.)

Father Harold Doran was born in Cape Town on 18 February 1902. His early school
years were spent at St. Bridget’s primary school, Cape Town, which was run by the

Dominican Sisters. Thereafter he went to Marist Brothers, Cape Town and after his

family had moved to Rondebosch he finished his schooling at Marist Brothers,
Rondebosch. (Fig. 1.25).

Further studies took him to the Propaganda College, Rome where he studied Philosophy

for two years and Theology for a further four years. He was ordained in Rome on 23
December 1933.

He was assigned to St. James Catholic Church as assistant priest on 28 September 1934
and after nine years was appointed Parish Priest of St. James in 1943. He served his

entire life at St. James until his death on 10 July 1971.

Father Doran will be remembered for his many accomplishments at St. James during his

priesthood. On the ‘concrete’ side he was responsible for the alterations and additions to
the St. James Catholic Church where the entrance porch was moved from the south side

to facing the Main Road, the transferring of the St. James Mission School from Star of
the Sea to the new building at Kalk Bay, the building of the new Presbytery at St. James

and helping Mother Gonzalva Nolan, then Prioress, and Mother Angels with the new

Golden Jubilee block which was built in front of the convent. These are lasting
memorials to his work, but it was his dedication to all the residents of St. James and

Kalk Bay, irrespective of colour, class or religion for which he will be long
remembered. His parish extended from Diep River to Kommetjie and the quaint scenes

of Father Doran speeding along in full priesthood regalia initially on his motorcycle,
which he once described “as the wettest form of transport other than swimming”, and

then finally in his baby Fiat Cub (bought March 1949), are fondly remembered.