Curriculum Vitae

Biographical Information

James Andrew Joseph Dvorscak was born on April 5, 1951, to Andrew and Margaret (Barlo) Dvorscak, in East Chicago, Indiana. 

He is the oldest of seven children: Jerome (Susan) Dvorscak, Barbara (Stephen) Rains, Joseph (Kathy) Dvorscak, John (Rose) Dvorscak, Andrea Martin, and Andrew (Jane) Dvorscak, with numerous nephews and nieces.  

He grew up in Whiting and in Highland, Indiana, and moved to Illinois in 1976.  All four of his grandparents emigrated to the United States from Eastern Slovakia (Austria-Hungary) about 1900, and he has visited their hometowns in Slovakia several times.

Educational History

  • Our Lady of Grace Grade School: Highland, Indiana: 1957-1965
  • Brunnerdale Seminary High School: Canton, Ohio: 1965-1968 (junior graduate)
  • B.A. in Philosophy: St. Joseph College, Rensselaer, Indiana: 1968-1972
  • B.S. in Music Education, Magna cum Laude: St. Joseph College, Rensselaer, Indiana: 1968-1972
  • M.A. in Religious Studies: Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana: 1974-1975
  • M.S. in Management and Organizational Behavior: Benedictine University, Lisle: 1994-1996
  • M.Div. in Theology: St. Meinrad Seminary, St. Meinrad, Indiana: 1972-1976
  • D.Min. in Pastoral Care and Counseling: Chicago Theological Seminary, Chicago: 1984-1986
  • Diploma in Slovak Language and Culture: Univerzita Komenskeho, Bratislava, Slovakia: 1988
  • Sheptitsky Institute of Eastern Christian Studies: Transfiguration Monastery, Ukiah, California: 1989
  • Ph.D. in Pastoral Psychology: Graduate Theological Foundation, South Bend, Indiana: 1996-1999
  • Sabbatical: Institute for Continuing Theological Education, North American College, Rome: 2014
  • ChristLife Course Training, Baltimore, Maryland: 2018
  • Encounter School of Ministry, Michigan: 2022

Ministerial History

  • Baptized in 1951 at Sacred Heart Church in Whiting, Indiana, where his parents were married in 1948
  • First Communion in 1959 and Confirmation in 1960 at Our Lady of Grace Church in Highland, Indiana
  • Ordained a Deacon by Archbishop George Biskup at St. Meinrad Archabbey: March 15, 1975
    • Deacon, St. Dominic, Bolingbrook: Summer 1975
    • Deacon, St. Edmund, Watseka: Summer 1976
    • Deacon, St. Petronille, Glen Ellyn: Fall 1976
  • Ordained a Priest by Bishop Romeo Blanchette at St. Petronille Church, Glen Ellyn: November 27, 1976
    • Associate Pastor, St. Petronille Church, Glen Ellyn: 1976-1979
    • Diocesan Consultor and Presbyteral Council Member: 1978-1980
  • Advocate, Joliet Diocesan Tribunal: 1979-1983
    • Associate Pastor (part-time), St. Dennis Church, Lockport: 1979-1980
    • Associate Pastor (part-time), St. Raymond Cathedral, Joliet: 1980-1983
    • Composer of the “Omnia Sancta Olea” Chrism Hymn: 1983
  • Associate Pastor, St. Liborius Church, Steger: 1983-1987
  • Associate Pastor, St. Mary Church, Mokena: 1987-1994
    • General Editor for the Second Synod of Joliet: 1989
    • Bi-Ritual Faculties for the Ruthenian Eparchy of Parma: 1992
  • Pastor, Christ the King Church, Lombard: 1994-2002
  • Pastor, St. Mary Church, Mokena: 2002-2014
  • Pastor, St. Daniel the Prophet Church, Wheaton: 2014-2022
  • Pastor, St. Dennis Church, Lockport: 2022