Introducing: Jim Campbell
Our new Director of Evangelization and Catechesis, Jim Campbell, started at Holy Spirit on June 24.
Jim and his family are coming to Holy Spirit from Athens, Georgia, where he has spent the last five years. While in Georgia, he received a master's degree in languages and literature at UGA, where he also taught Japanese to undergrads. While studying, Jim had a strong conversion back to the Catholic faith mediated by the Blessed Virgin, especially under the title Our Lady of Sorrows. He persevered through academia and went immediately into the happier life of full-time lay ministry. For the last three years, he served as Director of Youth Formation at his home parish and was deeply involved in coordinating and teaching RCIA, one of his favorite parts of the work. Jim grew up in New York, and before moving to Georgia, spent a year living at the top of a mountain deep in rural Japan, teaching English to middle schoolers. His forty-minute commute for groceries during this time has prepared him mentally for the commute from Plymouth to St. Paul for work every day.
Jim has been married to his wife and best friend, Michelle, for three years. Michelle has in recent years taught high school theology, but will be returning to her professional background in science research as a middle school science teacher at St. Therese in Deephaven. Jim and Michelle have two boys: Fulton, who is two years old, and Jimmy, who is eight months. Fulton will be just down the hall from dad as a preschooler at Holy Spirit this fall.
Jim's hobbies these days almost entirely surrounded by his Catholic faith. He loves to pray the rosary and go to adoration. When not doing these things, he likes to play with his boys or read and watch movies with his wife. Now that he is here at Holy Spirit, he is entirely yours and is at your service. However he can help you come to know, love, and serve the God who knows, loves, and serves you, he is ready and willing to drop everything and do it for you. All you need to do is ask. Come by or reach out any time!