Father James A. Williams
March 26, 1936 - February 9, 2023
Obituary
Father James A. Williams went home to the Lord Jesus on February 9, 2023, at St. Francis Hospital in Federal Way, Washington. Born in Dickson City, Pennsylvania on March 26, 1936, to his parents Morgan and Lillian, he was the third of five children: one girl and four boys. He was close to his siblings and parents. As the one Catholic parent, his mother encouraged his vocation to the priesthood. He applied to seminary at the age of 16, but was not accepted. Believing in his vocation, his pastor suggested that he apply to the Divine Word Missionaries. He followed this advice and was accepted and attended St. Mary’s Seminary in Techny, Illinois. He was ordained in Conesus, New York on January 9, 1965, by Bishop Aloysius J. Wycislo, Auxiliary of Chicago at the time. This was in the last year of the Vatican II Council which had a major impact on his priesthood. After ordination, he was assigned as an accountant for the Society, in Borden Town, New Jersey. Although not his first choice, accounting was a skill he inherited from his mother and was useful to the missionary order. When he learned that there was a need for priests to serve in the Vietnam War, he got permission from his superior and joined the Army. In Vietnam, he was known to celebrate Mass on the hood of a combat jeep as one example of his being there for the soldiers like Jesus. As with many soldiers, he was exposed to unspeakable violence and tactics aimed to demoralize. He was also exposed to “agent orange” which he attributed to his health issues later in life. After the Vietnam War, he would remain with the Army and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. He said that his next step would have been working for the military in Washington D.C., but instead he chose to turn his attention to serving diocesan military families. One of his final posts in the Army was at Fort Lewis, and he fell in love with the pacific northwest. In addition, he felt warmly welcomed by Archbishop Hunthausen. Despite being still thousands of miles from home, these factors helped him feel led by the Holy Spirit to a new missionary calling for his priesthood in the Archdiocese of Seattle. In July of 1981, Archbishop Hunthausen gave faculties to Fr. Jim as a Vicar Cooperator at St. Frances Cabrini in Lakewood, so that he could witness marriages while serving at Fort Lewis. Over the next four years, Fr. Jim increasingly fell in love with the area and the people of the archdiocese and petitioned the Society of Divine Word to be secularized and incardinated as a priest of the Archdiocese of Seattle. On June 14, 1985, Archbishop Hunthausen incardinated him and Fr. Jim gave his oath of stability on July 11, 1985. He was appointed Priest Administrator of Queen of Angels Parish in Port Angeles on July 1, 1989. In 1992, Archbishop Murphy appointed him Parochial Vicar of St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in Seattle and St. Anne Parish in Seattle. Archbishop Murphy requested Fr. Jim attend St. Paul University in Ottawa and earn his Canon Law degree. In short order he did just that, and in 1994, was appointed Canonical Consultant and Adjunct Judicial Vicar, a role he would continue to serve under Archbishop Brunett through the early 2000’s. He then went on to serve as a Parish Priest at St. Mary Magdalen in Everett and St. Jude in Redmond. In 1998, Archbishop Brunett appointed Fr. Jim as Pastor of St. Bernadette in Burien, where he would serve until his retirement in 2005. Fr. Jeffrey Moore, a former parishioner and ordained for the Archdiocese of Seattle in 2017, credits Fr. Jim with providing the solid Catholic environment that set him up to grow in discipleship and discern priesthood. Fr. Jim was a big presence at the parish far beyond his time as pastor and helped with the aesthetic upgrades to the church to make it more attractive, contemporary, and functional. He came out of retirement to be a sacramental priest serving alongside pastoral coordinator, Diana Mastandrea and later when the parish priest was dealing with health issues. Fr. Jim also helped for nine months in 2015 to help St. Martin of Tours in Fife as a Parish Priest. Fr. Jim had a gift for leading others to Christ and in the day-to-day operations of parish life. He had a ‘hands off’ approach to leadership. He was available to mentor and guide, but he allowed the staff to grow in their independence and use their gifts. He trusted others to perform their duties without becoming overly involved. He was not a micro-manager! He lived and led by the motto…Don’t do anything for yourself that someone else can do for you. Certainly, something he learned as a leader of men in the Army! He refrained from a judgmental tone and instead offered an encouraging word when others fell short. He was truly comfortable in his own skin and had a fabulous sense of humor. He was known for his pastoral presence to vulnerable people, especially the sick, elderly, dying and their families.
Ministries such as St. Vincent De Paul and Hospitality House thrived under his guidance. He loved youth and promoted their growth in discipleship. The children loved him and looked forward to seeing him, especially at Mass, as he would come down from the pulpit and ask them questions. Despite the distance, he stayed close to his family back east, and enjoyed reuniting with them. He was an avid hiker and swam on an almost daily basis. He was uncomfortable at large events and would make a “cameo” and then disappear. He loved to eat out (a regular at Huckleberry Restaurant in Burien) and always wanted to pay the check. There are epic stories of battles to “take turns” paying with Fr. Jim. He carried lifelong friendships from his military days like Joel Powell, Gail O’Rear and Deacon Juan Lezcano to his time at St. Bernadette, especially with the Allan and Mastandrea families. His generosity was beyond admiration, but he was humble about it. His generosity was also experienced by scores of parishioners and struggling families. One time he showed up to youth group with a brand-new vacuum cleaner for two young women moving into an apartment together. He was known to cover the bill partially or completely for youth gathering dinners (from pizza to ribeye), mission trips, retreats, and other activities. Despite his bookish background (holding five master’s degrees from family development to Canon Law) he related to people in all walks of life as a shepherd like the Lord Jesus. He was deeply devoted to the Liturgy of the Hours and hyper aware of the ministerial duties of a priest. At a moment’s notice he was known to initiate prayer or sacramental care to anyone in need. Eternal rest granted unto him, O Lord, and let Your perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul, and all the souls of the faithful departed, rest in peace. Predeceased by his Parents, Lillian and Morgan Williams; Sister, Constance Williams; Brothers, John Williams, Jerry Williams, Bill Williams; and Sister-in-law, Sis Williams. Survived by his Sisters-in-law, Rosemarie Williams, and Irene Williams; Nephews, Michael Homesley, Kevin Williams, Keith Williams, Jimmy Williams, David Williams, and John Williams. Niece, Tricia Homesley, Cathryn Homesley, Debbie Williams, Patty Williams, Ann Marie Williams, and Karen Williams; many grand nephews and nieces and twenty-one great-grand nephews and nieces.