The ministry that built him

by Megan Duncan ’14

FATHER JAMES WHEELER, OFM has given many blessings, and he’s also been a blessing to many. He wasn’t aware of just how many people he’d touched until January 9, 2021, when they celebrated the 55th anniversary of his ordination as a priest at St. Francis Solanus Parish in Quincy. He was overwhelmed by the familiar faces in the congregation. “I was so emotional I couldn’t even talk. The church was filled with people from all the different places I have been a priest, and they spoke about how I influenced them.” Although he did not start out a Franciscan, Fr. Wheeler has early roots in the faith. Growing up in St. Patrick, Missouri, with his parents, the late Leonard and Josephine Wheeler, he attended a public school taught by Franciscan sisters. It was after meeting the friars from Quincy University (then Quincy College) that eventually piqued his interest in the Franciscan way of life. “The Franciscans at Quincy College always helped out in St. Patrick on the weekend masses while the pastor was over in Ireland. I was impressed with them, so I got to know them, and that’s what drew me to the Franciscans.”

However, he did not immediately attend seminary. He first received a B.S. degree majoring in Political Science from St. Louis University before studying philosophy at Our Lady of Angels Seminary in Cleveland, Ohio, and receiving a B.A. degree in Philosophy in 1962 from Quincy College. After Fr. Wheeler served for two years in the Illinois National Guard, he decided to attend seminary and was ordained to the priesthood at St. Francis Church in Teutopolis, Ill., on January 9, 1966. His path of ministry continues today. According to Fr Wheeler, the ministry has built him and made him the person he is. Still presiding over masses, funerals, weddings, and many Cursillos at the Franciscan Retreat Center, even after his semi-retirement in 2012, he will be working in the mission field for as long as God continues to use him. He also serves as President of the Quincy University Retirees Association and Chaplain for the Quincy University National Alumni Board. “I’ve always said, the friends I’ve made in the last 55 years of priesthood have made me who I am, and I treasure that because it brings me to God and God to me. From working with teenagers, college students, and parishioners, we learn from the people we serve. They are God’s gift to us.”

FR. WHEELER'S PATH OF MINISTRY...

FIRST ASSIGNMENT GIVEN WAS TEACHING RELIGION AND SPANISH AT PADUA FRANCISCAN HIGH SCHOOL IN PARMA, OHIO.

THREE YEARS LATER, HE BEGAN DIRECTING RETREATS FOR TEENS ENCOUNTERING CHRIST (TEC) IN CLEVELAND. HE WAS THEN INVITED TO HELP START TEC IN QUINCY, WHICH IS STILL GOING TODAY.

HE MINISTERED FROM 1972 - 1984 IN QUINCY: THREE YEARS AS THE DIRECTOR OF FIELD EDUCATION AT OUR LADY OF ANGELS SEMINARY AND NINE YEARS AS THE DIRECTOR OF CAMPUS MINISTRY AT QUINCY COLLEGE.

AFTER A YEAR’S SABBATICAL AT THE INSTITUTE FOR SPIRITUALITY AND WORSHIP AT THE JESUIT SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY IN BERKELEY, HE WAS INVOLVED IN CAMPUS MINISTRY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA AND AUGUSTANA COLLEGE IN ROCK ISLAND, ILL.

“I’VE ALWAYS SAID, THE FRIENDS I’VE MADE IN THE LAST 55 YEARS OF PRIESTHOOD HAVE MADE ME WHO I AM, AND I TREASURE THAT BECAUSE IT BRINGS ME TO GOD AND GOD TO ME. FROM WORKING WITH TEENAGERS, COLLEGE STUDENTS, AND PARISHIONERS, WE LEARN FROM THE PEOPLE WE SERVE. THEY ARE GOD’S GIFT TO US.”