Very Rev. James Burkart

Fr. James Burkart was ordained to the presbyterate of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston on May 22, 1993. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Drama from the University of Houston in 1988, a Master of Divinity from the University of St. Thomas in Houston in 1993, A Master of Arts in Theological Studies (Systematic Theology) from the University of St. Thomas in Houston in 1995 and a Master of Arts in Theologica Studies (Liturgy) from the University of Notre Dame du Lac in 2004.

He served as parochial vicar at St. James the Apostle Church in Spring, Texas and St. Theresa in Memorial Park. He was assigned as administrator and then pastor to St. Mary, Mother of God in Hempstead, Texas in 1999 and St. Martin de Porres in Prairie View, Texas in 2000. These two parishes were merged into one new parish called St. Katharine Drexel in 2001. He also served as pastor at St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic Community and is presently the pastor of Christ the Good Shepherd Catholic Community in Spring, Texas serving since July 2014. In September of 2022 he was made the Vicar Forane (Dean) of the San Jacinto Deanery of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.

He served as Chairperson of the Archdiocesan Liturgical Commission from 2005-2018. He is a past-president of the Board of Directors of the Southwest Liturgical Conference (swlc.org) and currently serves as an associate member.