Father Jim
Father James St. George is an ordained priest offering wedding officiant services and has for the last 17 years. Father has been named in the top officiants nationally and recognized as a Couples’ Choice Award!
As an ordained Franciscan and Old Catholic Priest, he has served as a Trauma Chaplain and Pastor. Loving what he does, he is one of only a few Catholic priests who will travel to an off-site location, and also marry couples of various denominations and faiths. Each of Father James St. George’s ceremonies are customized to reflect the couple, as well as the importance of the commitment they are making.
Father James has performed over 2,800 weddings in Pennsylvania and various other states, and is licensed to provide his services in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Texas, and Ohio, as well as others. He can officiate interfaith and single-religion ceremonies, as well as vow renewals. If requested, he can also attend the ceremony rehearsal to ensure all involved in the wedding understand their responsibilities.
About Brother Friar Sean
Friar Sean Hall is a Professed Franciscan Friar and is also a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with extensive experience working with children in all forms of crisis. Sean graduated from Gannon University with a baccalaureate degree and from Howard University with a Master’s in Social Work. He previously served as Director of Schools, and Director of Religious Education (DRE) Programming and as an educator with Children’s Faith Formation (CFF) and KidsLife Programs at Saint Miriam Parish. Sean has worked for United Healthcare, Optum Health, KidsPeace Hospital for Children in Crisis in Orefield, PA and for the Washington, DC Government in Children and Youth, Homestretch, IONA Senior Services, and hospital-based social work and case management offices. He also does family and individual therapy. Sean enjoys gardening and outdoor living and lived with his Golden Retriever, Friar!
Father Liam
Father Liam Murphy serves Saint Miriam as our Assisting Pastor for Spiritual Life and Formation. In this role, Father leads all spiritual life, formation, and development of Prayer Life and Book Club/Studies, Centering Prayer, Contemplation opportunities, Small Groups, Home Masses, Retreats, et al, to deepen and tie people to our wonderful community without always having to be ‘in the pew’. Father Liam also leads a month long round of retreats in Assisi, Italy every September that allows him to enrich his own spiritual life and enhance our life together at Saint Miriam. Father also regularly serves at First Friday Mass and leads our Music Ministry with our Music Director and Cantor. He rotates with all of our priests to serve at Sunday Masses and Holy Days of Obligation/Holidays.
Father Liam grew up in the Mayfair section of Northeast Philadelphia. He attended St. Timothy Grade School and Fr. Judge High School before entering St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in 1982.
Father was ordained a Catholic Priest in 1990 and immediately began working with the Hispanic population in parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
In 1999, Father was assigned to open a mission in Barceloneta, Puerto Rico, serving as Pastor of Nuestra Senora del Carmen Parish and establishing a Summer Formation Program for seminarians to learn Spanish and immerse themselves in the culture.
Upon his return, Father Liam served as Pastor for eight years at St. Patrick Parish in Norristown and then for four years at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in West Grove.
In 2015, along with another priest, Father Liam opened a “storefront church” called Mother of Mercy House, in the Kensington section of Philadelphia. This site served as the Church’s presence in an area where all the parishes had closed. The ministry reached out to the poor, underprivileged, homeless and immigrants in the area.
While loving his ministry, Father Liam always felt a pull towards reaching out to those who felt rejected by or left out of the Church. He felt drawn towards the LGBTQ+ community, to those who were remarried and others who longed for communion with God and the Church, but were barred from God’s Table. His desire was to truly welcome all to the Table of the Lord so that they could feast on Love and be nourished by Love in order to discover themselves as truly loved and as part of the Family of God. Then they could put their own gifts at the service of the People of God. After years of struggle and prayer, Father Liam discovered he could best answer this divine pull by ministering at a wonderful, all-inclusive place like Saint Miriam Parish Community.
Father Liam enjoys reading theology and spirituality. Some of his favorite writers/thinkers are Teilhard de Chardin, Ilia Delio, Richard Rohr, Gerard Lohfink, and Brian McLaren and of course, Father Jim! He also enjoys a good novel.
Father Liam also relaxes by playing piano, talking walks in the city and enjoying the company of good friends.
