Rev. Msgr. James M. Barker, M.Div., S.T.B.
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PastorOur Pastor is assigned to the parish by the Archbishop. He is responsible for the overall spiritual care of the parish community, including the administration of the sacraments, counseling assistance to persons in spiritual need, instruction in the Gospel, and Church teaching. He sees to the provisions for adequate facilities for the liturgical, educational, and social aspects of parish life and to their financial support.
Ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Baltimore in 1980, Msgr. James M. Barker was appointed Pastor of St. Ignatius in July, 2001. Prior to his appointment to St. Ignatius, Msgr. Jim was the Director of Vocations in the Archdiocese of Baltimore for ten years and Associate Pastor at St. Louis, Clarksville, and St. Joseph, Cockeysville. On May 1, 2006, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI named Fr. Jim a Monsignor with the title Chaplain to His Holiness. Msgr. Jim is a native of Baltimore.
It is his responsibility to maintain a sufficient staff and volunteers to accomplish parish objectives and programs. He accomplishes this with the support of the Pastoral Council. The priority of parish obligations, needs, and long-range goals are determined by the pastor with the cooperation of his staff, the Council, and parishioners.
Upon his arrival in 2001, Msgr. Jim completed the new Parish Church and dedicated it with Cardinal Keeler on December 2, 2001. Since that time, Monsignor has added an Associate Pastor suite onto the rectory, restored and renovated the Historic Church, added an addition to the Parish Center with eight new classrooms, and renovated the Parish Hall.
