Father James Thoman, CP
January 19, 1948 - March 17, 2010
It is with great sadness that we share the news of Fr. Jim’s passing on March 17. Fr. Jim is known to many as the retreat director at St. Paul of the Cross Retreat and Conference Center. He is also known as "Father James" by thousands of Passionist friends and benefactors locally and throughout the U.S. as the Spiritual Director from whom many Passionist letters, spiritual enrollment folders, and other communications are sent.
Fr. Jim was diagnosed with cancer in the fall of 2009. Although he underwent rigorous radiation and chemotherapy treatment, his health severely declined. In February 2010 he entered Angela Hospice in Livonia, Michigan where he passed away March 17, 2010.
Funeral Arrangements for Father James Thoman, CP
Sunday, March 21, 2010 Monday, March 22, 2010 Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Retreat Center Chapel Retreat Center Chapel St. Genevieve Parish,
Visitation: 3-8 pm. Visitation: 3-8 pm. Livonia, Michigan
Prayer Service: 4 pm. Prayer Service: 7 pm. Wake: 10 am.
Mass of Resurrection: 11 am.
Retreat Director/Spiritual Director
Fr. Jim was appointed retreat director at St. Paul of the Cross Retreat and Conference Center in 1999. He also served as the Spiritual Director for the Province Development Office in Chicago since 1992. He served in both of these roles until his death.
First Profession
Father Jim made his First Profession of Vows on July 8, 1967.
Ordination
Steven Luebbert, Father Jim and John Hilgert on their Ordination Day, May 31, 1975.
Provincial Council
Fr. Jim served on the Provincial Council from 1991-1999. He is pictured here with the Council in 1995. Seated: Frs. Michael Joseph Stengel, Provincial, and Michael Higgins. Standing: Blaise Czaja, Clemente Barron, Jim Thoman.
Pre-Chapter Gathering
Fr. Jim, Fr. Clemente Barron, CP, Bishop Daniel Flores of the Diocese of Brownsville, TX, Bishop John Quinn of the Archdiocese of Detroit, MI and Fr. Arthur Carrillo, CP, at the Pre-Chapter gathering of Holy Cross Province in 2007.
World Youth Day
Fr. Jim gave a special blessing to the pilgrims from Detroit who traveled to Sidney, Australia for World Youth Day in 2008.
Visiting Kenyan Missionaries
Fr. Jim received an invitation from the Passionists in Kenya to conduct a seminar on Passionist spirituality. He traveled to Kenya in summer 2009.
It was Fr. Jim’s vision that an endowment fund be set up to ensure the future of St. Paul of the Cross Retreat and Conference Center. A fund has been established in his memory. Please click here to contribute and select "Fr. Jim Thoman Endowment Fund" from the ministry drop-down list.
