Fr. Jim Perkl

Fr Jim Perkl received his B.A. from St Olaf College before receiving his master’s degree from the St Paul Seminary of the University of St. Thomas, being ordained in 1984. In 1996 he received his Doctor of Ministry degree from the University of St. Thomas. Ordained 40 years, Fr. Perkl has served as pastor at three parishes: St John the Baptist in Jordan, St Elizabeth Ann Seton in Hastings, and since 2014, has served as pastor of Mary, Mother of the Church in Burnsville. Before being called to his first pastorate, Fr Perkl served as associate pastor at St John Neumann in Eagan and at St Dominic in Northfield. In the past, Fr. Perkl has served as a Spiritual Director at both St John Vianney (Minor) Seminary and St. Paul (Major) Seminary in St Paul.

Currently, Fr. Perkl serves as spiritual director to Risen Savior Mission Sisters. Fr. Perkl serves on the following boards:  Unity Catholic High School, Risen Savior Missionaries Philippines/Zimbabwe and The Catechetical Institute at The St Paul Seminary. In the past, Fr. Perkl served as a founding member of the T.L.C. Pregnancy Resource Center in Hastings, also serving as their spiritual director. Fr. Perkl is an active member of  the Burnsville Police, Fire and Emergency Chaplain Team. Fr. Perkl is well-traveled, serving as spiritual director on pilgrimages to many Catholic sites around the world and enjoys skiing, golfing, and biking and is a very gifted iconographer.