Personal Secretary to the Prior Administrator.

Fr. James was born in Dayton, Ohio on January 5, 1961.   He graduated from Midlothian High School (Richmond) in 1979 and received a B.S. in Engineering Science and Mechanics from Virginia Tech in 1984.  Before discovering his vocation to the priesthood, he worked for nine years as a Research Engineer specializing in industrial applications of lasers.  He was baptized as a young adult in the Southern Baptist church and was very active in an evangelical non-denominational church before being received into the Roman Catholic Church in 1993.  In 1995, he began seminary studies for the Diocese of Arlington, then in 1999 discerned a calling to return to the Richmond Diocese and join the Benedictine community, which is his “home.”   He completed his Master of Divinity Degree at Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, MD in 2002 and received his M.A. in Systematic Theology from St. Vincent Seminary in 2003.  His M.A. Thesis was entitled, “Marriage and the Family as a Reflection of the Trinity”.  Fr. James taught senior and sophomore theology classes at Benedictine High School for three years.  He spent his diaconate year at St. Ann’s parish in Ashland before his ordination to the priesthood on May 22, 2004.   Fr. James served for one year as Associate Pastor at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, then for two years as Parochial Vicar at St. Bridget’s Parish in Richmond before being assigned as Pastor of St. Theresa Parish in Farmville, as well as the mission parishes of Immaculate Heart of Mary in Blackstone, St. John the Baptist in Crewe, and Sacred Heart of Jesus in Meherrin.  Fr. James is part of the chaplaincy team of Benedictine High School.