James Healy Short, a retired Episcopal priest and former Roman Catholic priest, was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Growing up in a devout Irish-French Catholic family, he developed a deep spiritual connection at a young age, particularly drawn to the compassion and sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
At the age of fifteen, Jim felt a strong calling to dedicate his life to the priesthood. He pursued his religious education within the Marianist order, earning a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Dayton. He furthered his theological and biblical studies at the Marianist Seminarie in Fribourg, Switzerland, and obtained a certificate from the Lumen Vitae Institute in Brussels, Belgium. His academic pursuits culminated with a Master's degree in Christian Education from Fordham University.
Ordained a Roman Catholic priest at the age of thirty, Jim served under the Provincial Superior of the Marianist communities of the Central United States in Dayton, OH. In the early 1960s, he became deeply involved in the charismatic renewal movement. At the age of thirty-three, he felt a calling to a different path, leading him to seek dispensation from the Pope to be free to marry and to continue to celebrate the sacraments. At 35, Jim married Barbara Sue Gumm.
Jim subsequently embraced the Episcopal Church and served as Rector of the Church of the Ascension in Denver, Colorado for 21 years, where he and Barbara raised their five children. After retiring, Jim and Barbara moved to Virginia to be near their children and grandchildren. After 14 years they returned to Denver, where they currently make their home and gratefully participate in the community life of St. Luke's Episcopal Church. They enjoy spending time with their children and 21 grandchildren and step-grandchildren.
Throughout his life, Jim has been significantly influenced by the Gospel of St. John, which he began reading during his high school years. This profound spiritual text has shaped his faith and ministry, inspiring him to share the love of Christ with others.