Meet the Vocations Director
Father James Guarascio
Q: Where did you grow up, and where'd you go to school?
A: I grew up in Naperville, Illinois where I attended Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church and grade school. After that I went to Benet Academy in Lisle for high school. I then entered St. John Vianney College Seminary at the University of St. Thomas up in St. Paul, MN, and finished my seminary studies at Mundelein Seminary in Illinois.
Q: Tell us about your family.
A: I am the youngest of four boys, all of whom ended up working in various fields. My oldest brother works in business consulting, the next as a physical therapist, and the third as a mechanical engineer. My dad was a CPA and my mom stayed at home to manage the chaos. I am of course a priest, but the only other religious in my family was my grandfather who was part of the very first permanent diaconate class for Chicago. My brothers are all happily married, and I am blessed with five nieces and nephews as a result.
Q: Was your family devout?
A: My parents always made sure to bring us to Mass, even when we were on vacation. We prayed before meals and my mother taught me how to pray while growing up. However, we didn't participate in any faith activities beyond that. My brothers went to public grade schools before all going to Benet, but I was sent to Peter and Paul for grade school. It was there, where my teachers would bring the entire class to periodically spend some time in Eucharistic Adoration that I began to experience God in prayer.
Q: Tell us about your call to the priesthood.
A: Beginning in fifth grade, the Lord began moving my heart every time I would hear the word priesthood. I had never considered priesthood before, and no one had ever suggested it to me, including my parents. I didn't know at the time that God would actually communicate with ordinary people like me. Nevertheless, these subtle movements continued until in eigth grade I finally began to understand what was happening. It seemed clear to me that God was inviting me to pursue the priesthood. I wasn't so sure that priesthood would really make me happy, so I decided to put it off until the end of high school. I tried to live a "normal" high school life—I hung out with friends, worked hard at school, did soccer, swimming, and volleyball, dated for a while—but my relationship with God was kept to the side. As a result, come senior year, I felt empty and unhappy inside. I realized that I'd been ignoring God and so I began to try to put Him first. I went back to confession, began attending daily Mass, applied to seminary, and upon beginning my first year in seminary, felt a peace and joy that I had never felt before. Seminary helped me to grow in so many ways, and over the next several years, continually confirmed my call to the priesthood. I was ordained in June 2020, and that deep peace and joy that only God can give continues to this day.
Q: What are some of your hobbies?
A: Since I grew up playing sports non-stop, I love to exercise. Pickleball, soccer, volleyball, and basketball are always a good time. I also like to read Catholic books, play board games or card games, visit parishioners, visit my family, and spend time with my priest friends.
Q: What did you do before becoming the Director of Vocations?
A: My first assignment was as a parochial vicar at Our Lady of Mercy in Aurora from 2020 - 2023. I then was assigned to St. Mary Immaculate in Plainfield from 2023 - 2026. I've been in charge of the diocesan Unbound prayer team for much of that time and also serve as the chaplain for Waterleaf Women's Center in Aurora.
Q: Tell us something we didn’t know about you.
A: Thanks to my own former vocations director, I took extra Spanish classes in college, lived in Mexico for a couple summers, and became fluent in Spanish. I thus was able to serve the Spanish-speaking communities in both Aurora in Plainfield during my time there. Hispanic ministry has been one of the greatest blessings of my priesthood.
Q: What would you say to someone thinking about the priesthood?
A: Reach out to me and I'd be happy to help! [email protected] Whatever God asks of us will be a blessing not only to those whom we serve, but even to ourselves and to our families. He made your heart, He knows you better than yourself. Talk to God every day. Go to adoration. Go to some of our discernment events and reach out. It is in following Him that we will find what we were made for.
