James Charles Erving

Rev. James C. Erving, OMI
Missionary Oblate Priest for 13 Years
Rev. James Charles Erving, OMI, born in Brooklyn, New York, on January 22, 1971, died in San Antonio, Texas, on March 18, 2014, at the age of 43 years. Fr. Erving entered Novitiate on August 17, 1994, in Godfrey, Illinois, and professed vows as a member of the Congregation of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate on August 1, 1995. Fr. Erving completed his studies in theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, Italy, in 1999. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 27, 2000, at Immaculate Conception Parish in Towson, Maryland, by Bishop Michael D. Pfeifer, OMI.
Prior to his priestly ordination, Fr. Erving served as Campus Minister and Teacher at St. Anthony Catholic High School in San Antonio. Fr. Erving's first priestly assignment was as Parochial Vicar at Immaculate Conception Parish in Lowell, Massachusetts. He then served in vocation ministry in the Northeast. Fr. Erving also served as Parochial Vicar at Holy Angels Parish in Buffalo, New York, and at Our Lady of Refuge Parish in Eagle Pass, Texas. Fr. Erving served as Pastor at Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish in Port Isabel, Texas, and at Our Lady of Refuge Parish in Roma, Texas. While in Buffalo, Fr. Erving hosted a radio program on The Station of the Cross Catholic Radio Network. In South Texas he was very active in the ACTS movement and was a member of the Knights of Columbus as a third degree Knight. At the request of Bishop Daniel E. Flores, Fr. Erving also served as Director of the Respect Life Apostolate of the Diocese of Brownsville.
In addition to his Oblate family, Fr. Erving is survived by his parents, Joseph and Eileen (Tierney) Erving; his sister, Elizabeth Gonzalez, and her husband, Rubén; his brother, Daniel Erving, and his wife, Amy; his nephews, Joseph and Patrick Gonzalez; and his nieces, Annabelle Gonzalez and Grace and Nora Erving. Fr. Erving will be remembered with respect and esteem by his Oblate brothers and all the people who were recipients of his pastoral care.
Funeral services were held at Immaculate Conception Memorial Chapel in San Antonio on March 21 and 22, 2014. Interment was at the Oblate Cemetery in San Antonio. Memorial contributions may be made to the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, 327 Oblate Drive, San Antonio, TX 78216.
A Memorial Mass for Fr. Erving will be celebrated at St. Joseph the Worker Shrine, 37 Lee Street, Lowell, Massachusetts on Wednesday, April 23, 2014, at 7:00 pm.