Fr. Jim Brobst, OMI, General Councilor for the United States – Canada Region

For the next six years, Fr. Jim Brobst, OMI, will serve as the General Councilor for the Missionary Oblates’ Canada – United States Region. The position is based in Rome, Italy, where Fr. Jim will serve as a liaison between the Oblates’ leadership team and the Oblates serving in the two countries.

Father Jim was born in 1960 in Alton, Illinois, just a short distance from the Oblate novitiate. After earning a music degree in college, he began to seriously explore a religious calling and joined the Oblates.

He professed his First Vows as a Missionary Oblate in 1985 and was ordained a priest in 1990. He first served on the pastoral team at Precious Blood Parish, an inner-city parish in Chicago.  He then was assigned to his hometown of Alton where he was Parochial Vicar at St. Peter and Paul Parish.

After seven years of parish work, Fr. Jim joined the formation team at George Sexton House of Studies in San Antonio, Texas. From 1999 to 2005 he was the Director of the Oblate House of Theology in Chicago.

Father Jim served for one year in Anchorage, Alaska, before being named Formation Director for the Oblates’ U.S. Province. In 2008, he was named Director of Kings House Retreat and Renewal Center.

In 2011, Fr. Jim was appointed Midwest Area Councilor of the U.S. Province and since 2017 he has served as Vicar Provincial for Mission in Ministry for the U.S. Province.