Fr. James DesHotel S.J

I was born in Euclid, OH, the fifth of eleven children.  When I was seven, my father took a job teaching physics at Marquette University and we moved to Milwaukee, WI.  I went to high school there with the Jesuits.  After college, I entered the novitiate, and left after fifteen months.  In 1082  I entered the novitiate of the New Orleans Province.  

Since I was a teenager, I wanted to be a nurse.  The superiors finally agreed and I came to St Louis University for undergraduate nursing school.   After a couple of years working at New Orleans’ famous Charity Hospital, I went to theology studies in Boston. MA.

Since I was a novice the first time, I was interested in the Byzantine Divine Liturgy.  Theology studies and living in Boston allowed me to continue to develop that interest.

After theology, ordination and graduate school, in nursing and public health, I returned to New Orleans and worked for Catholic Charities and what is now Ascension Health, helping to set up health care clinics and outreach for underinsured and underserved people.

In 2010 I came to St Louis and was introduced to the Ruthenian and Ukrainian parishes.  At that time St Mary’s Assumption was covered by several priests, most notably Fathers Ron Mercier, SJ and James Knapp, SJ.  Father Mercier was chosen provincial, and a little later Father Knapp developed dementia.  (He died in December 2024).

So I’ve been enjoying the grace of serving St Mary’s, even finally beginning to learn some Ukrainian —  and getting to know quite a few very holy people.

Fr. Dcn Eugene Logusch

Parish Administrator