Fr. Jim Kubajak was born in Chicago, Illinois, May 24,1948, to James J. and Evelyn (Kolasinski)Kubajak. He attended elementary school at St. Clare of Montefalco Parish on the South Side of the city. Father Jim attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary South, graduating in 1967. He received his Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from Loyola University, Chicago, in 1972. Father attended St. Mary of the Lake Seminary, Mundelein, Illinois, completing his Master of Divinity in 1976.

In 1976, Father Jim decided to leave the Latin Rite and embrace the Byzantine Rite. He was accepted by Bishop Emil Mihalik and attended Sts. Cyril and Methodius Seminary, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was ordained to the Holy Priesthood by Bishop Emil July 10, 1977. Following his ordination, Fr. Jim served at St. John the Baptist Cathedral, Parma, Ohio and at Holy Ghost Byzantine Catholic Church, Cleveland, Ohio. He was, for a short time (two weeks, to be exact), administrator of St. Michael Parish, Bridge Street, Cleveland. Father was appointed pastor of St. Mary Magdalene Byzantine Catholic Church, Fairvew Park, Ohio, August 1, 1979. On August 1, 1985, Father Jim became the 21st pastor of St. Michael Parish, Oregon, Ohio. He is the longest-tenured pastor in the history of the parish. Father received his Doctor of Divinity Degree from St. George University International, September, 1999. Father is a Magistral Chaplain of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta www.smom.org; an Assistant Chaplain of the Military and Hospitaller Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem www.st-lazarus.net; a Chaplain of the Order of St. Stanislas www.ststanislas.org and a Cleric of the Order of Sts. Cyril and Methodius, Enlighteners of the Slavs.

Father Jim is a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism www.sca.org and the National Rifle Association www.nrahq.org After all this, he's still "Fr. Jim"!