Ordained a diocesan priest in 1991, he is pastor of St. Clare of Assisi Parish and School in O'Fallon, IL. His undergraduate degree is in Business Administration-Marketing from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, and a Master of Divinity from Mundelein Seminary in Chicago. In addition to his primary role as pastor, he also serves in the diocese as a consultant to the bishop and is the chair for diocesan priestly formation. On a national level, he has served in various ways in the ongoing formation of priests. Father Jim serves as an adjunct faculty and board member for the "Institute of Priests and Presbyterates" at St. Meinrad Seminary. Publications include several videos and articles on the sacraments for Liguori Publications. In his local community, he served on the board of HSHS St. Elizabeth Hospital for nine years, and presently serves on the Foundation Board for Hospital Sisters Healthcare Systems (HSHS) in Springfield, Illinois.  www.stclarechurch.org