The Reverend James Livingston
Fr. James can be reached at (949) 661-0110 (ext242)
or by e-mail at;
James.livingston@smes.org
While I was working with patients, as an acupuncturist, I wanted to understand them as a whole in order to best know how to help them. So I always asked about their physical, mental, and spiritual health. Quite often I was interested in peoples answers about their spiritual health but if they didn’t offer any more then it would have be unethical for me to delve more into the subject. I thought on this quite often and thought about how I myself had never been confirmed, even though I had been raised in the ways of the church my entire life.
I decided to take confirmation lessons. I always had more questions than answers about the lessons that were being taught. One day my instructor told me that I made a terrible confirmation student, that I had too many questions, so I should probably just be a priest.
Joann and I weren’t married at the time but we knew we would be married at some time. We decided to put off my entering the seminary until we had been married for a year. We wanted to establish our marriage before taking on the burdens of the seminary. So after that first year of marriage, I entered the seminary in Virginia and the rest has fallen into place.
What are your responsibilities at St. Margaret’s?
I am a Chaplin for the upper and middle schools and teach courses in the Old Testament and introduction to the scriptures. I am also excited that this year I will be working as a wrestling coach at the school.
I also assist Fr. Rob with anything that is needed.
My Family:
My mother lives on the East coast dividing her time between two homes, one in Florida and the other in Pennsylvania. I have a brother who is a Colonel in the Air Force and a sister who is an elementary teacher in Thailand.
My wife, Joann, and my wedding anniversary is the day after Christmas. She is 1st generation Filipino and we follow a lot of the Filipino traditions in our household. This will be evident after October 15th, which is our son L. X.’s first birthday. Following tradition we will shave his head except for a small patch on the top.
How I met my wife?
I met Joanne while studying acupuncture and Chinese medicine in Orlando, Fl. Each of us had our own private practice until I felt the call to the priesthood in 2007.
Not many people at St Margaret’s know that:
I have a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do and another in Aikido.
I am also an avid video game player and a lover of anything to do with the space program. Yes, I did go to the parking lot at Disneyland to watch the Space Shuttle on its “piggyback” tour of Southern California.
Education:
I have a BA in Philosophy, a Masters in Healthcare, and a Masters in Divinity.
How I became a Christian:
I was born one.
How I came to be at St Margaret’s:
I was interviewing for a position at another church when Fr. Phil (DeVaul) called and said he had interview set up for me here at St. Margaret’s.
Favorite Movie:
The Original Star Wars series, with an honorable mention to Pulp Fiction.
Favorite food, or restaurant:
Italian Food…
How I spend my days off:
Going for walks, anywhere, with my wife and son, I love to carry my son.
A personal project I can’t wait to finish/ start:
I would love to build a “Man Cave”. I can envision it and just hope someday to actually have it.
My first job:
Working at McDonald’s. We decided to try something different and started a buffet. It lasted about a week.
What I’ll ask Jesus when we meet:
Was that Ok?
My prized possessions:
I have a sword collection. The prize of that collection is a Japanese Officer’s Sword that my Grandfather smuggled home after the war. He stuck it down his pant leg and strapped it to his leg. He told everyone that he had a knee injury.
A time when I felt very close to God:
When my dad was in the hospital on his deathbed.
I would most like to meet (again):
My dad…
What I’d like to say to the people of St. Margaret’s:
It is such a special privilege to work here at St. Margaret’s. So much so that I have a hard time putting my feelings into words, so when anyone asks me how I like it here I just answer, “I love it”.
or by e-mail at;
James.livingston@smes.org
While I was working with patients, as an acupuncturist, I wanted to understand them as a whole in order to best know how to help them. So I always asked about their physical, mental, and spiritual health. Quite often I was interested in peoples answers about their spiritual health but if they didn’t offer any more then it would have be unethical for me to delve more into the subject. I thought on this quite often and thought about how I myself had never been confirmed, even though I had been raised in the ways of the church my entire life.
I decided to take confirmation lessons. I always had more questions than answers about the lessons that were being taught. One day my instructor told me that I made a terrible confirmation student, that I had too many questions, so I should probably just be a priest.
Joann and I weren’t married at the time but we knew we would be married at some time. We decided to put off my entering the seminary until we had been married for a year. We wanted to establish our marriage before taking on the burdens of the seminary. So after that first year of marriage, I entered the seminary in Virginia and the rest has fallen into place.
What are your responsibilities at St. Margaret’s?
I am a Chaplin for the upper and middle schools and teach courses in the Old Testament and introduction to the scriptures. I am also excited that this year I will be working as a wrestling coach at the school.
I also assist Fr. Rob with anything that is needed.
My Family:
My mother lives on the East coast dividing her time between two homes, one in Florida and the other in Pennsylvania. I have a brother who is a Colonel in the Air Force and a sister who is an elementary teacher in Thailand.
My wife, Joann, and my wedding anniversary is the day after Christmas. She is 1st generation Filipino and we follow a lot of the Filipino traditions in our household. This will be evident after October 15th, which is our son L. X.’s first birthday. Following tradition we will shave his head except for a small patch on the top.
How I met my wife?
I met Joanne while studying acupuncture and Chinese medicine in Orlando, Fl. Each of us had our own private practice until I felt the call to the priesthood in 2007.
Not many people at St Margaret’s know that:
I have a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do and another in Aikido.
I am also an avid video game player and a lover of anything to do with the space program. Yes, I did go to the parking lot at Disneyland to watch the Space Shuttle on its “piggyback” tour of Southern California.
Education:
I have a BA in Philosophy, a Masters in Healthcare, and a Masters in Divinity.
How I became a Christian:
I was born one.
How I came to be at St Margaret’s:
I was interviewing for a position at another church when Fr. Phil (DeVaul) called and said he had interview set up for me here at St. Margaret’s.
Favorite Movie:
The Original Star Wars series, with an honorable mention to Pulp Fiction.
Favorite food, or restaurant:
Italian Food…
How I spend my days off:
Going for walks, anywhere, with my wife and son, I love to carry my son.
A personal project I can’t wait to finish/ start:
I would love to build a “Man Cave”. I can envision it and just hope someday to actually have it.
My first job:
Working at McDonald’s. We decided to try something different and started a buffet. It lasted about a week.
What I’ll ask Jesus when we meet:
Was that Ok?
My prized possessions:
I have a sword collection. The prize of that collection is a Japanese Officer’s Sword that my Grandfather smuggled home after the war. He stuck it down his pant leg and strapped it to his leg. He told everyone that he had a knee injury.
A time when I felt very close to God:
When my dad was in the hospital on his deathbed.
I would most like to meet (again):
My dad…
What I’d like to say to the people of St. Margaret’s:
It is such a special privilege to work here at St. Margaret’s. So much so that I have a hard time putting my feelings into words, so when anyone asks me how I like it here I just answer, “I love it”.
