Fr. James Calledo
Associate Pastor
I am the oldest of 7 children. I entered the seminary when I was 12 years old in Cebu, Philippines in 1978. I was ordained priest in 1994. I served in 2 parishes in the Archdiocese of Cebu, Philippines before responding to a call within a call, that is to be a Chaplain in the US Military. I came to America in December of 2000 for one reason- to serve the US Military as a Chaplain. But it took me 13 years of waiting to make that dream a reality. I served 2 parishes here in Rockville Centre (St James in Seaford-2001 to 2006 and St Anthony of Padua in East Northport-2006 to 2013) before going the USAF as an Active Duty Chaplain in 2014. I had to wait to become a naturalized citizen before I could apply for the Active Duty Chaplaincy in the USAF. I became a naturalized citizen in July of 2012. After 2 years of submitting requirements, background checks, and finally undergoing the COT (Commissioned Officer’s Training) I became an Active-Duty Chaplain in the USAF in May 2014. My first assignment was in FE Warren AFB in Cheyenne Wyoming. I served there for 3 years. In 2017, I got transferred to Spangdahlem AB, Germany where I stayed until August of 2020. My next assignment would have been to Yokota AB in Japan by June 2020. However, Bishop Barres recalled me back to Rockville Centre. In September of 2020 I got the assignment to serve as an associate pastor of 2 parishes-St Mark’s in Shoreham and St John the Baptist in Wading River. Bishop Barres has allowed me to transition from USAF Active-Duty Chaplain to Air National Guard Chaplain. On Drill Weekends I report for Military Duty as a Chaplain at 106th Rescue Wing, Westhampton Beach, NY. Now that I am a member of this parish family of St Joseph, I am looking forward to walking with all of you in our journey of faith as we deepen and intensify our relationship with Jesus in and thru the Holy Eucharist, where He is fully present- body and blood, soul and divinity. Amen.