More than a thousand people remember the life and impact of Fr. James Callan of Spiritus Christi

Rochester, New York – The life of Father James Callan was celebrated Saturday morning with a liturgy attended by over a thousand people at Rochester’s Riverside Convention Center.

Father James Callan is regarded as a loving priest and a trailblazing leader. After a fight with cancer, Callan passed away on December 13.

“People may forget what you say to them, but they never forget how you make them feel, and Father Jim had the gift of making you feel the love of God,” Reverend Myra Brown said.

The church that Father Callan co-founded in 1999 is led by Rev. Brown. Callan’s actions diverged from those of the Catholic Church, which contributed to the creation of Spiritus Christi.

“Father Jim could never have done what he did if he was afraid of being criticized,” Reverend Mary Rammerman told the large throng that had assembled to honor Callan. “Amen,” yelled someone.

Prior to founding Spiritus Christi, Callan’s activities and subsequent split from the Catholic Diocese garnered global attention.

“What he means is love,” Rev. Brown stated. “A love that says no one is dispensable.”
He celebrated same-sex marriages, welcomed women to the altar, and provided communion to everyone because he felt that the church was better suited to being inviting than exclusive.

In addition to his generosity and witty humor, Callan leaves a lasting impression.

“He could be irreverent,” Rammerman said with a laugh. “He could play pranks and make fun of people…In addition to having a huge laugh, he loved having fun.

Rammerman encourages people to learn from Callan’s example: “We all have something we can give,” Rammerman stated. “Each of us has the power to change things. We simply need to examine our lives and ask ourselves, “What can I do?”