Fr. Jim grew up on a farm on the outskirts of Fillmore, the oldest of eleven brothers and sisters.  Right after graduating from Fillmore High School he entered St. John's Seminary, and was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles nine years later.  He has had parish assignments at St. Bernardine of Siena (Woodland Hills), St. Paschal Baylon (Thousand Oaks), St. Elizabeth of Hungary (Van Nuys), and St. Mary Magdalen (Camarillo), and was dean of students at St. John's Seminary College before coming to St. Jude's.