Father James Callan, the founder of Spiritus Christi and an advocate for change, has passed away

Rochester, New York – Father James Callan, affectionately known as Father Jim, passed away on Saturday. He was a retired pastor.

Fr. Jim played a key role in establishing the progressive Catholic Church known as Spiritus Christi. In the 1970s, he made his way to Rochester, where he joined Corpus Christi Church and gained recognition for his inclusive ministry style.

Fr. Jim encountered backlash for his support of women’s ordination, his stance on marrying same-sex couples, and his decision to welcome non-Catholics to partake in communion. As a result of these actions, he was dismissed from Corpus Christi in 1998. Not long after, he urged Mary Ramerman to found and head Spiritus Christi, a church that emerged from the Corpus Christi community.

In 1999, Fr. Jim encountered the possibility of excommunication, which stands as one of the most serious penalties imposed by the Catholic Church. Nonetheless, a significant number of parishioners accompanied him from Corpus Christi to Spiritus Christi.

Fr. Jim demonstrated a profound dedication to social justice, establishing initiatives aimed at supporting the poor, sick, and disadvantaged.

“He embodied faith, took decisive action, and exemplified humanity,” remarked Dr. William Valenti, co-founder of Trillium Health, who had a 30-year acquaintance with Father Jim.
In the 1980s, Fr. Jim was involved with the Isaiah House hospice program. This program was the pioneer in accepting patients with AIDS into hospice care.

He provided support and managed programs for housing, food, and medicine for individuals living with AIDS. The innovative efforts expanded and evolved alongside Spiritis Christi.

“I hold him in high regard for his significant contributions and for being among the first faith leaders to take action in response to the AIDS crisis,” Valenti remarked. “He demonstrated how faith leaders should respond to the AIDS crisis with compassion, providing support to those in dire need during a time that affected health, culture, and life itself.”

Valenti emphasizes the necessity for additional Fr. Jim Callans.

“He established a significant legacy and raised the standard for others to aspire to.”

Fr. Callan found pleasure in writing during his leisure time. He elaborated on his life and authored biographies of other pioneering religious figures in the community, such as Mary Ramerman, the founding pastor of Spiritus Christi.