BY LARRY GRARD

Staff Writer

For 38 years, the Rev. Jim Roy spread the word of Christ's teachings to the people of Africa. If he could, he'd still be in Kenya, where he fell in love with its people. Before, that, it was Tanzania. He says he loved them, too.

But today, Roy has another important duty to fill for the Roman Catholic Church. He is performing Mass at his hometown church, St. John the Baptist in Winslow, as well as in other local parishes.

Having returned to this country when he was stricken by cancer seven years ago, Roy, 76, is living in the old family homestead, on Bay Street.

At St. John's, he sees a church that remains nearly full for weekend Masses. The parish maintains a Catholic school for students in pre-kindergarten through 5th grade.

"I like numbers, and I like it when people participate," Roy said from the sunroom of the old home, which still has an attached barn. "They still have a school. They keep it going. God bless them."

Roy is a 1951 Winslow High School graduate.

He underwent cancer treatment in New York City, following a diagnosis of kidney cancer in 2001. Doctors removed his left kidney, and then the cancer spread to his left lung. Doctors in New York see Roy every six months.

"It's mostly a checkup," he said. "I'm a survivor. I never smoked."

He could have moved anywhere, but chose to come home.

"I had been away a long time," said Roy, who arrived in Tanzania shortly after he was ordained in 1961. "I came here because of the connections."

Roy is the eldest of four brothers. The home they grew up in had been rented for the past 17 years.

He sees a church much different than the one he grew up in. The old St. John's was torn down, and replaced by the current church in 1957. Lay people do many of the functions at Mass.

"I'm surprised at the self-reliance of the church," he said. "Priests used to do everything."

The Rev. Philip Tracy, pastor at Corpus Christi Parish, met Roy some 20 years ago, when Tracy served as an assistant at St. John's for two years. In Roy, Tracy sees an unassuming, humble priest.

"He's a very holy man, and a brilliant man," Tracy said. "He's just well-versed in politics and current events and theology. He knows different languages. He's very enthusiastic."

Roy broke an ankle in February, slipping on the ice during one of his many walks around town.

"I see him walking," Tracy said. "It's the same with the Church. If he's physically able to do something, he does it."

Off to Africa

Following his ordination, Roy had hoped to begin his missionary service in China. But, as he related, the Communists closed foreign missionary posts and churches.

Instead, the Maryknolls assigned him to Tanzania. He landed in an old mission near Lake Victoria. There was no Bible or dictionary in the local language of Kikwaya.

Roy was the youngest of three priests there.

"I started from scratch, learning the local language," he said. "We got a dictionary going, then worked on Proverbs, and started a translation to the Bible."

Through the years, Roy would learn Swahili and other regional languages.

Roy recalled a people that were hospitable to Christian missionaries. Hospitality, he said, was a defining attribute.

"I think it would be something like the native Americans were here," he said. "I was there to spread the word of Jesus."

There was "zero" resistance, he said.

"It's because the people who went before me didn't alienate the people," Roy said. "They had great interest. No antipathy or anything. There already was the sense of one God, called 'Mungu' in the local language."

Today, Roy said, Tanzania has gone from about 10 percent Christian to about 80 percent.

"Agricultural people are much closer to God than in the cities, where there's lots of drinking," he said. "You can teach religion in the public schools. Parents can choose Muslim or Anglican or Catholic. Some places have waiting lists for girls to join the nunnery."

Wealth is another deterrent to a religious life, Roy said.

"Once you move into wealth, you're more self-reliant. Prayer doesn't seem to mean as much."

In 1970, Roy went from rural Tanzania to urban Kenya, where he remained until the cancer diagnosis. His personal belongings remain there.

He served the church first in Mombassa, a port city of about one million people with a heavy Muslim influence. Then it was on to the capital city of Nairobi, population two million.

"We got along well there before the Iraq invasion," Roy said. "I hear things have changed radically now.

"I'd still be there, because of the people. The people are great with their hospitality. They love the Church there. The seminaries are full."

Earlier years

Roy is the son of Canadian immigrants, J. Arthur and Leone Roy. His father worked for Central Maine Railroad.

He went to school first at St. John's, then at Winslow High. There, another Winslow native, Dominick Morrissette, inspired Roy to join the priesthood.

Morrissette, a Maryknoll priest, spoke about his calling to a class at the school. He had lived in Bolivia, Peru and Chile, and knew Spanish well.

"I joined Maryknoll, and went into training to become a foreign priest," Roy said.

Now, it's full circle.

"I love my neighbors," Roy said. "I hate the winters."

Larry Grard -- 861-9239

lgrard@centralmaine.com