Deacon Jim has a background in teaching and school counseling, having been an educator for over 15 years. He started working at the parish on July 30, 2015
He earned degrees from Northern Iowa (BA) and Buena Vista (MSE).
He was ordained a deacon in 2023 as part of the 20th permanent diaconate formation class of the Archdiocese of Dubuque.
He is a member of the Secular Franciscan Order. The OFS abbreviation is taken from the Latin of Ordo Franciscanus Saecularis, and not the English translation.