Fr Jim was born in Detroit, Michigan on 3 October 1934 to Arthur De Laurier and Veronica Sullivan. He died in the early hours of 9 September 2015 after battling cancer for nearly a year.

In 1953 he was accepted as a Novice in the Order of Carmelites, North American Province of St. Elias and made his first profession of vows on 8 September 1954. He made his Solemn Profession on 15 September 1958 at Mount Carmel in Williamstown, MA and was ordained to the priesthood on 28 May 28 1960 in Chicago, Illinois.

Following his ordination Fr Jim served at Bellevue Hospital in New York City as a Chaplain before leaving for Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), to assist in the mission of the Irish Carmelites there.

He served at St Andrew Corsini Mission as the Parish Priest from 1961-62 and then at St Patrick’s Mission from 1963-71. He also served as the Principal of the Grammar School from 1963-68 and then as Principal of the High School from 1969-71. While in Rhodesia Jim became endeared to the people, the people to him.  He was fondly known to all as “Baba Gondor,” translation “Father Eagle.” He also worked closely with the Carmelite Sisters in Rhodesia, the Handmaids of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

Due to political unrest in Rhodesia in 1971, Father Jim returned to the United States.  He was assigned to St Albert’s Junior Seminary in Middletown, NY for the next 7 years as Religion Teacher, Group Dynamic Facilitator (71-77), Prefect for High School Seniors (71-72) and Prefect for college students (72-78). From1973-78 he was also Chaplain at the Mid-Hudson Psychiatric Center and Counselor at the Middletown Counseling Center in Middletown, NY. From 1978 to 1981, Father Jim was the Director of College Students first at Norwalk, Connecticut and then at Brandsma Hall in Purchase, NY.

For the next four years Jim was Parish Priest at Transfiguration Parish in Tarrytown, NY (1981-85).  In 1985 he was elected Prior Provincial of the Saint Elias Province and then re-elected for a second term in 1988 serving until 1991.

In 1991 he was assigned Director of Development (91-99) for the Province and also Director of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (91-97) in Middletown, NY.  During this time he was instrumental in having the title of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Shrine transferred from Our Lady of the Scapular in Manhattan, NY to Saint Albert’s in Middletown.
    
Always willing to accept responsibility in the work of the Province and for the Order, Jim served faithfully in many capacities. Member of the Preparatory Commission (72-73, 76-79, 91-94), Provincial Councilor (73-76, 94-97), Mission Procurator (1983-8), National Shrine Task Force (1991-94), Chair Elian Award Committee (92-94), liaison Hispanic Commission (94-97), and Liaison Mission Task Force (94-97).

In 1999 Father Jim requested a transfer to the Australian Province in order to be near his only brother and family. After a period of orientation in Carmelite parishes in Hilton, WA and Wentworthville NSW he undertook a renewal course at Marymount Centre, Castle Hill NSW and assisted in the Carmelite parish at Coorparoo, QLD before being assigned to the Carmelite Community in Port Melbourne as Prior, Director of the Carmelite Centre and Director for Formation in 2001. Just eight months later he was elected to the General Curia in Rome where he served the Order as the General Bursar until 2007.

Returning to ministry in Australia in 2007 Father Jim was appointed Provincial Delegate for the Lay Carmelites (until 2013) and Provincial Bursar. He also celebrated weekday and Sunday masses in the parish of Port Melbourne/Middle Park. Jim was elected to the Provincial Council in 2013 and appointed Prior of the Carmelite Community at Middle Park.

Over the last couple of years he made contact with the Zimbabwean community in Victoria and regularly celebrated mass for them in Shona at St Joseph’s Church, Port Melbourne VIC.

Fr Jim is survived by his brother, Stephen and nieces Kathleen and Meaghan and nephew, Joseph.

A dedicated, faithful and hard-working Carmelite who served the Order and the church in the United State, Zimbabwe, Rome and Australia. May he rest in peace.

Fr Jim's Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, cnr Richardson & Wright Streets, Middle Park at 11.00am on Monday 14 September.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Fr Jim may be made to the Education Fund for Carmelite Students and mailed to Carmelite Provincial Centre, 75 Wright Street, Middle Park, Vic 3206.