On February 17, 1972, I was born the 13th of 14 alphabetically named children. As a child, I grew up on a working holstein dairy farm milking as many as 250 animals. I attended St John the Baptist Church and grade school in Harrison, Ohio. I graduated from Elder High School and attended 1 year at the University of Cincinnati. Starting when I was 16, I worked in the restaurant business. First, with LaRosa’s and then as general manager for Pizza Hut for 3 years. At that point, I switched to managing at several Jersey Mike’s locations. I returned to UC in 1999 and graduated with a BA with honors in History with the intention of teaching high school. Lacking the funds to pay for graduate school I was able to get a job at Thomas More College in Northern Kentucky working in the maintenance department and taking education classes at the same time. It was at Thomas More that my vocational call was reawakened. I entered Mount Saint Mary Seminary where I earned a Master of Divinity and was ordained a priest on May 19, 2012. My 1st assignment was as chaplain and teacher at Chaminade Julienne High School in Dayton Ohio where I taught Scripture (I am currently working on my thesis for a Masters of Biblical Studies). My weekend assignment was to St Peter Parish in Huber Heights, Ohio. Earlier this year, due to the medical retirement of the pastor, I was named co-administrator of Region 12 (St Peter, Holy Cross, Our Lady of the Rosary, St Stephen’s, and St Adalberts). Other ministries I have been involved with include Project Rachel and the Respect Life Office. In my spare time, I like to play most any sport, especially basketball, ping pong, golf bowling or just walking in the woods. I also like to play cards (Pinochle with Euchre a close second), watch movies, and cook (baking in particular). I love volunteering each year for the FAM OHIO convention usually held in Columbus dedicated to helping educate those with bleeding disorders. I also like volunteering for the Over the Rhine and Walnut Hills Soup Kitchens as an active board member. Finally, I like to spend time with family and friends. I hope this gives you a snapshot of who I am, the rest you will learn in time.

Fr. Jim is from Norwood, Ohio where he has lived his whole life. He is the eleventh born of fourteen children, seven boys and seven girls. Most of the oldest seven still live in the greater Cincinnati area, while most of the younger seven have moved away, all over the country. He grew up in a traditional Catholic family, across the street from St. Mathew parish in Norwood, which is now a consolidated parish with two other Norwood parishes, now known as Holy Trinity Parish. Before joining the seminary he worked as a cook at the Hyatt Regency in Cincinnati and at the Marriot in Covington, KY. He also worked as a Technical Services Representative for Fifth Third Bank. He joined the seminary in September of 2005 and was ordained a priest in May of 2013. He likes to camp and fish. He is an avid sports fan, both the Reds and the Bengals. His first assignment was as Parochial Vicar at St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish in Liberty Township Ohio. He was assigned to Our Lady of Good Hope and St. Henry in 2015 as Parochial Vicar, where he has served for the last four years until being named Pastor in July of 2019.