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Rev. James J. Greenfield, OSFS, Provincial

The second of Bud (Thomas) and and the late Nance’s three sons, James J. Greenfield was born and raised in Philadelphia, where he was graduated from Our Lady of Ransom Parochial School and Father Judge High School.  His experience of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, who staffed Father Judge, prompted him to enter their seminary on the campus of DeSales University (then, Allentown College of St. Francis de Sales), where he also obtained a bachelor’s degree in politics. 

Fr. Greenfield’s seminary formation brought him to serve as a religion teacher at Salesianum School in Wilmington, DE, after which he studied in Washington, DC at DeSales School of Theology and George Washington University, earning master’s degrees in divinity and counseling, respectively.  He later returned to GW to earn his doctorate in human development and then to serve on the faculty there as an instructor.  He has also taught at the Washington Theological Union.

Prior to his present ministry as provincial superior of the Wilmington-Philadelphia Province of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, a position he has held since January 2008, he served as its assistant provincial and director of vocations, formation and Salesian programs.  He now lives with his local Oblate community in Wilmington, DE, serving a third term as provincial.  

Fr. Greenfield serves on the board at Salesianum School, where he is chair, and Nativity Preparatory School, both in Wilmington, DE.  He is also a trustee on the boards of Father Judge High School and DeSales University.  He was selected by the leaders of religious communities of men in the United States to serve as president of the Congregation of Major Superiors of Men (CMSM) thru August 2016. 

Working many years in Washington, DC, Fr. Greenfield has served in a number of parishes for weekend ministry, where he greatly enjoys preaching and presiding at Mass.  Additionally, he has traveled throughout the various regions of his province leading parish missions, retreats and days of recollection.  He is a certified pastoral counselor and author of a number of articles on religious life, seminary formation and the intersection of spirituality and human development.  He enjoys running, practicing the piano, and spending time with his nieces and nephews. 

To contact, Fr. Greenfield, please email him at jgreenfield@oblates.org.