Fr. James Shadid
Associate
fatherjames@stgeorgecathedral.net

Fr. James joined our Cathedral family in 2000 and has served as the Cathedral Youth Director for four years and now continues His ministry as Assistant Priest to the Dean. Fr. James is originally from Oklahoma City. He studied Journalism and Public Relations at the University of Oklahoma. He continued his studies in Boston at Holy Cross Seminary where he received his Master of Divinity degree. Before coming to Wichita, he spent a year studying Arabic at the Balamand Theological Seminary in Lebanon. October 5, 2002 he married the love of his life Gigi Baba Shadid in Houston, TX.

Formerly known to many as "Jimmy," Fr. James has been working with the youth of our diocese and archdiocese for many years. Growing up, he was always involved with SOYO and other church related activities. One the highlights of his ministry has been his activity with our Archdiocese camping program. Many of our youth here at the cathedral have either been his campers or have had him as a teacher of Christian education. Having served as a counselor at the Antiochian Village for nine years, he was asked to head Camp St. Raphael (YABOY!), a boast of our Diocese, and continues to serve as the Camp Director.

Fr. James was ordained to the the Diaconate September 19, 2004 here at St. George and was ordained to the Holy Priesthood October 17, 2004 at St. Elijah, Oklahoma City. Fr. James is the son of James and Jeanette Shadid and grandson of Economos Nayemtallah Shadid who served as the priest for many of our forefathers in the village of Mrjeyoun, Lebanon. Jimmy has one sister and brother-in-law, Nicholas and Nanette Hathaway of Norman, Oklahoma.

Fr. James has always stressed the idea that the Church is and should be an integral part of the lives of the youth. He believes the summit of our fellowship and lives as Christians is partaking of the Eucharist as one family each Liturgy. However, Orthodox Christianity is not just a "Sunday-thing." It is a lifestyle that is to be maintained throughout the whole week, month and year requires the active participation of all our community. It is not simply a way of life that should change once we leave the cathedral parking lot, but rather one that we must nurture and extend into our classrooms and playgrounds, our offices and businesses, our dorms and living rooms.