Fr. James Farfaglia
Fr. James Farfaglia was born on February 20, 1956 to Salvatore and Eleanor Farfaglia, in Stamford, Connecticut. Father is the oldest of four children. His sister Donna lives in Phoenix, Arizona, his brother John lives in Saratoga Springs, New York, and his youngest sister Amy, is a member of a religious order.
At the age of five, Sal and Ellie took their young family to the beautiful New England town of Ridgefield, Connecticut. Ridgefield is where Father James grew up. He went to St. Mary's Catholic elementary school, and then graduated from Ridgefield High School in 1974. He spent all of his Saturdays and summers of his boyhood working alongside his Dad at the family restaurant.
During the tumultuous years of 1968 - 1974, Father developed a deep passion for politics. Although he loved serving Mass as an altar boy, he never experienced a desire to become a priest. His mind was set on becoming a lawyer and he wanted to run for public office.
God's divine providence led the High-School graduate to a new Catholic College that was just beginning in New Hampshire. Magdalen College welcomed their first group of students in September, 1974, and it is there where Fr. James met Jim Hickel from Anchorage, Alaska. They were roommates for four years and became life long friends. During his sophomore year at Magdalen College, Father experienced a profound calling which led him to the Catholic priesthood.
Upon graduating college in 1978, Father joined the Legionaries of Christ. At that the time, the Legion of Christ was just beginning to develop in the United States, and Father had many opportunities to help in the growth of the congregation.
His path to the Roman Catholic priesthood brought him to study in Spain and Rome. Throughout his years with the Legionaries of Christ, he founded and developed seminaries, schools and a Lay Movement, in Spain, Mexico, Canada, and throughout different parts of the United States.
Once again, divine providence was at work, and God led him to parish life. He met Bishop Edmond Carmody who was then the Bishop of Tyler, Texas. Bishop Carmody asked Father to found and build a new parish in Lufkin, Texas. St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church was built in 6 months and the rectory within 3 months.
When the project was completed, God's providence was at work again, and Bishop Carmody was transferred to the Corpus Christi diocese. Although the founding of St. Andrew's was a very rewarding ministry, through much prayer and discernment, Father decided to follow Bishop Carmody to South Texas. Bishop Carmody welcomed him with open arms and put him to work with Msgr. Michael Heras.
Both Msgr. Heras and Fr. James became instant friends and have worked very well together. During his time as parochial vicar of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, Father assisted Msgr. Heras in the growth and development of the parish. Father co-founded with Msgr. Heras the Lay Formation Program, and they both took on the exciting, but rather challenging project of co-founding a new parish, St. Helena of the True Cross of Jesus. St. Helena's was elevated to a parish on March 17, 2004 by Bishop Carmody, where Father James currently serves as the pastor.
Aside from his duties at St. Helena's, Father has his own Internet ministry. In 2002 he developed his own electronic parish and his weekly homily is featured on the diocese of Corpus Christi website. His homilies and essays have been frequently featured on popular Catholic websites.
Father James is a regular contributor to KLUX, the diocese of Corpus Christi radio station, where he has created his own inspirational radio spot called Power for Life. Father has also appeared as the invited guest on the Eric Von Wade Talk Show radio program where he has eloquently defended the pro-life teachings of the Catholic Church. Father is also the spiritual advisor to Hope House, a home for unwed mothers, a position that he holds close to his pastoral heart.
Aside from his demanding duties as a Catholic priest, Father loves movies, he is an avid Three Stooges fan, enjoys swimming and the outdoors, listens to jazz, plays soccer and basketball with his parishioners and he is a passionate cigar aficionado. You can contact Father at fjficthus@gmail.com and you can go to his electronic parish on the web at www.fjicthus.com.
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