Meet our Priests

Rev. James H. Kuczynski, M.S. (Ext. 108)

Born on the South East side of Chicago, near the beaches of Lake Michigan and in the shadow of the U.S. Steel Mill. He made his religious profession of vows in the La Salette Community in June of 1964. Fr. Jim graduated from St. Bede Jr. College in Peru, IL, and studied Philosophy at the La Salette Seminary in Ipswich, MA. He received his Master’s in Theology at the Washington Theological Union in Silver Spring, MD. Fr Jim was ordained a priest on May 12, 1973. He served in community assignments with seminary students, hospital chaplaincy in the Chicago area, pastor of a La Salette Parish in Rainham, Essex, in England, and served in leadership of the La Salette Community before being assigned as pastor at St. Thomas the Apostle church, in 2004.

Fr. Jim continues to serve in the leadership of the La Salette community as the Provincial Vicar of the U.S. Province of Mary, Mother of the Americas.

Rev. Pedro Chingandu, M.S. (Ext. 106)

Born on November 18, 1963, in a town called Luena, in the east of Angola. In February 1976, at the age of 12, he and his family were forced to leave the country due to the civil war. They took refuge in a Refugee Camp in Zambia for 15 years. He did his Novitiate in Bolivia, and made his First Vows as a La Salette in Brazil. He returned to Angola to be ordained a priest on August 15, 1996. In the last decade, Fr. Pedro was appointed as Novice Master and was elected twice as a Regional Superior of the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette in Angola. In June 2006 he arrived in the USA and was assigned to the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in Attleboro, MA, as a member of the Program Team. He arrived at our parish in 2010.

Rev. Andrews Kollannoor, M.S. (Ext. 128)

Born in the state of Kerala, India, on April 7, 1953, Fr. Andrews was ordained on December 5, 1985, in the Philippines where he served as Parish Deacon and Rector until 1993. He has also worked as Parochial Vicar in Tucson, AZ, Vocation Director and Provincial Superior for the Missionaries of La Salette in India. He has been serving our parish as Parochial Vicar since 2011.

Rev. Paul G. Rainville, M.S. (Ext. 193) – Retired priest in residence

Was born in Manchester, New Hampshire, on August 30, 1939. He attended a Catholic and bi-lingual grade school – grad. School (theology).

He made his first vows on July 2, 1960 and was ordained on December 11, 1965.

He has worked as a Parish Mission facilitator, Army Reserve Chaplain, Pastor and Parochial Vicar in Attleboro and Cape Code, MA; Quebec, Canada, and Texas. He speaks English, French and Spanish. Father Paul was assigned to our parish in July 2010.

Rev. Jaime Molina J., M.N.M. (Ext. 121)

Born in Chihuahua, Mexico on February 19, 1961. After 12 years of priestly formation with the Missionaries of the Nativity of Mary, he was ordained a priest on August 15, 1988. He was a pastor in two parishes in Mexico before starting his ministry with the Hispanic community,  here at St. Thomas, in 1991.

Rev. Mr. Michael Garrett

A native of Bartow, Florida, Deacon Michael was ordained to the Permanent Diaconate on February 4, 2006. His personal interests include reading, antique glass, and bowling. Ministry interests include Baptism, RCIA, Bereavement, and Liturgy.

Rev. Mr. Earl D. Jackson

Born in Marion, NC, Deacon Earl was ordained a Permanent Deacon of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, LA, on June 10, 2006. He served St. James Major Catholic Church (est. 1946) as the Parish’s first Deacon, and was assigned as Chaplin to the Ozanam Inn (a Shelter and Kitchen for the Homeless) in New Orleans.
Retired from Shell, Royal Dutch Group, he moved to the Atlanta area in 2007 and is married to Mrs. Assunta Gourrier Jackson. They have 3 children and 6 grandchildren.
His personal interests are world history and traveling with Assunta.
His services to St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church include the Liturgy & Baptisms, and workshops for the Eucharistic Ministry.