PASTOR ~ Reverend Ronald J. Minner, M.Div.
Fr. Minner was appointed pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish June 15, 2021. He was previously pastor at Holy Cross Church in New Philadelphia, PA.
PASTOR EMERITUS ~ Reverend James J. Ward, M.Div. (Retired)
Rev. James J. Ward was appointed pastor of the Church of the Immaculate
Conception August 2008. In June 2018 Fr. Ward was also named pastor of
St. Joseph Church, Jim Thorpe.
Born in Coaldale, and raised in Tamaqua, Fr. Ward
attended St. Jerome Elementary School and Marian Catholic High School. He
studied for the priesthood at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Philadelphia
and was ordained on May 19, 1973 by the Most Rev. Joseph McShea in the
Church of St. Thomas More, Allentown.
After being ordained Fr. Ward served as assistant pastor at St. Paul Church,
Reading (1973-74). He was a professor at Holy Name H.S. Reading (1974-79),
Notre Dame H.S., Easton (1979-80); Cardinal Brennan H.S. Fountain Springs
(1980-82) and Marian Catholic H.S. (1982-83).
Fr. Ward served as pastor at St. Fidelis Church, Mahonoy City (1981-83),
secretary of the Diocesan Tribunal, and Pro Synodal Judge (1986-94),
resident assistant to Bishop McShea, (1984-92) and then pastor at St. Joseph
& St. Stanislaus in Summit Hill(1992-96); three Saint Clair churches-St.
Mary, SS. Peter & Paul, & St. Boniface(1996-1998); and Sacred Heart
in Palmerton(1999-2008).
He was a member of the Diocesan Textbook Review Committee, Carbon County
Pro-life Coordinator, Carbon Deanery representative on the Priestly Life and
Ministry Advisory Committee, East Schuylkill County CYO Regional Director,
Carbon County Deanery Regional Youth Minister and Judge on the Diocesan
Tribunal.
In June 2018, Rev. James Ward was named
pastor at both Immaculate Conception Church and St. Joseph Church in
Jim Thorpe. The two were joined into one parish, Immaculate
Conception Parish in July 2020.
Fr. Ward retired from active ministry June 15, 2021.
Rectory Staff
Our Rectory office hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The office is closed on Wednesday.
If we can help you with anything, or you have any
questions to ask about our various organizations, please don’t hesitate to
call the Rectory. We would like you to feel that the Parish of Immaculate
Conception is your second home. Help is always needed, and if you have some
talent to contribute to our various programs, please contact us!
If you would like to become a registered member of our Parish please contact the Rectory.