PASTOR ~ Reverend James J. Ward, M.Div.

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.

Rectory Staff

Our Rectory office hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  The office is closed on Wednesday.

Office Email

~ Kathleen D. Merkel
~ Susan J. Uhnak
~ AnneMarie Cronk

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!
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