Father James Secora, the son of Evelyn and the late Bernell Secora, was born on December 12, 1949 and is the oldest of three children. He grew up in Fort Atkinson, Iowa, with his two younger brothers, John and Jeff.

He attended the local parish grade school, St. John Nepomucene. In 1967 he graduated from Turkey Valley Community High School, Jackson Junction, Iowa.

Father Jim graduated from Loras College, Dubuque, Iowa, in 1971, with a Bachelors of Arts Degree in English.

He began his graduate studies in Theology at St. Mary's Seminary and University, Baltimore, Maryland. While at St. Mary's, Father Jim participated in the seminary's clinical Pastoral education (CPE) program at Catonsville State Hospital, Catonsville, Maryland. He also did Pastoral work at the Office of Radio and Television of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, and at the Church of the Annunciation in suburban Baltimore.

Father Jim received his Master of Divinity Degree in 1974, and on April 6, 1974, in the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen, Baltimore, Cardinal Lawrence Sheehan, Archbishop of Baltimore, ordained Father Jim as a Deacon. From June through December 1974, he served as a Deacon Intern at both Saint Nicholas Church in Evansdale and Saint John Church in Waterloo, Iowa.

Upon completion of his seminary program, Father Jim was ordained a Priest by Archbishop James J. Byrne of Dubuque on May 31, 1975 at his home parish church, Saint John Nepomucene, Fort Atkinson, Iowa.

• Following ordination, his first assignment was Associate Pastor at Saint Benedict's Church, Decorah, Iowa.
  • In addition to his parish work, Father Jim was also a Chaplain and taught a course on Catholicism at Luther College, Fort Atkinson, Iowa.

• During the summers of 1977 - 1981, he did postgraduate studies at Boston College, Boston, Massachusetts, earning a Master of Education Degree in September, 1981.

• From 1978 - 1989, Father Jim taught in, and later chaired, the theology department at Wahlert High School in Dubuque, Iowa.

• From 1984 - 1989, he served as Master of Liturgical Ceremonies for Archbishop Daniel W. Kuecera of Dubuque.

• In 1987 he was named Pastor of Saint Catherine Church in rural Dubuque.

• From 1989 until July of 1997, Father Jim was the Pastor of Immaculate Conception Church, Executive Secretary of Immaculate Conception/St. Joseph Grade School, and Pastoral Coordinator of Don Bosco High School, all in Gilbertville, Iowa.

• In July of 1997, he became Pastor of Saint Patrick's Church, Cedar Falls, Iowa, where he presently serves.

  • In addition to his parish and school assignments, Father Jim has served on, and also chaired, the Worship Commission of the Archdiocese of Dubuque.

  • He has taught in the Archdiocese's Lay Ministry Formation Program.

  • He has taught, and remains a member of the core faculty of the Permanent Diaconate Formation Program of the Archdiocese

  • He remains a member of the Priests Continuing Education Board for the Archdiocese.

His leisure interests include music (classical, Broadway, big band, and some new age), reading (historical novels, who-done-it murder mysteries, and biographical works). He enjoys riding his bike, walking, spending time with friends, and visiting art museums, historical sites, and old - as well as new - church buildings.