Deacon Jim Carper, former Director of Marketing and Development for Holy Name of Jesus School, was recently appointed the Parish Life Director (Deacon – Administrator) for St. Bernadette Catholic Church in View Park by Archbishop Jose H. Gomez.
Deacon Carper is a recognized authority in Catholic stewardship and fundraising programs, a faith mentor and an experienced leader in building support for faith-based organizations. Most recently, Deacon Jim was the Director of Marketing and Development for Holy Name of Jesus School where he led numerous development and fundraising projects.
He is the former Stewardship Coordinator at St. Monica Catholic Community in Santa Monica, where he was part of a capital campaign team raising one of the largest goals in Catholic parish philanthropy history. As a development director, he has successfully led a variety of capital development projects, including a church, a youth ministry center, a kindergarten and a preschool.
In 2006, he was a member of the first delegation of fundraising professionals, one of only 12 selected from throughout the United States, to serve on a panel to share fundraising expertise in China. Prior to his career in stewardship and development, he spent more than 25 years in private-sector training, training development, marketing, diversity marketing and project management, mostly in the insurance industry.
He is a past president of the Simi Valley Education Foundation, the former Director of Good Works for the LA Chapter of CPCU, the former development director of St. Peter Claver Parish in Simi Valley, and the former acting director of the Simi Valley Family YMCA.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and speech from Westminster College in Pennsylvania; and a Master’s degree in theatre from Northern Illinois University. He holds CPCU (Charted Property and Casualty Underwriter) and GCA (Graduate Claims Administrator) designations. Jim and his wife, Teresa, work in the diaconate formation program of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. He was ordained in 2012.
“We are delighted to have Deacon Jim here at St. Bernadette. We know he will make a difference in our parish,” said parishioner Audrey Shaw.
Lillian Rouzan, another parishioner, added, “Deacon Jim is a wonderful addition to our parish. We were so surprised to discover he was being assigned here. What a blessing!”
St. Bernadette is located at 3825 Don Felipe Drive in Los Angeles. To learn more, call Deacon Jim Carper at (323) 293-4877.
