Ordination Day June 29, 1961
My Cousin and A Dear Friend

This past week I celebrated my 45th year as a priest. The time has passed so very quickly. It hardly seems all that long ago I was a young man wanting to devote my life in the priesthood and here I am all those year since, celebrating 45 years!

Bishop Arthur Roache with Jubilarians
(Would you believe I taught the Bishop
as a boy in Junior Seminary?)

Wow - some of your parents were not even born when I was ordained! Then, of course, I was ordained when I was FOUR (4) YEARS old!!! I wish.......

Some of the concelebrants
at the 40th Anniversary Mass August 10, 2001
Can you find Father Jim?

My life has been full, it has been very happy and it has given me many many friends. As a priest you get opportunities to do things and go places, many people never ever get. You have to work very hard and you must dedicate your every moment each day to the service of others. Jesus did it in His life, so as a priest I try as all other priests try, to copy Jesus.

Father Jim with Father Seamus
when we were Divinity Students 1960!

I saw many of my family and celebrated mass with many of my class mates. We had great fun talking about the past and particularly our years together in the seminary. We are all members of a religious Congregation called SALVATORIANS or The Society of the Divine Savor.

Relaxing at home

Our head house is in Rome and we have as our next door neighbor no less a person than Pope John Paul 11! He is very reserved and a quiet neighbor - never any problem!! Between ourselves I have met him more than once. My mother would say of him - 'He's a doll!'

At home with some family members

Talk to you soon again.
Remember 'THE FAMILY THAT PRAYS TOGETHER STAYS TOGETHER' words used by the Rosary priest Fr. Patrick Payton.

God bless you.
Fr. Jim

Father Jim outside my former rectory

Celebrating 6:30 Mass on my 45th Anniversary