Bath, N.Y., June 24—State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C-Big Flats) and Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C-Corning) recently recognized the retirement of a longtime area priest, Reverend James P. Jaeger, who since 2008 has served as the Pastor of St. Mary’s Church in Bath and St. Gabriel’s Church in Hammondsport.

Over the course of nearly 40 years of service to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester, Father Jaeger served numerous parishes across the Diocese, including assignments at Holy Name of Jesus and St. Ann Roman Catholic Church, Hornell; St. Margaret Mary, Irondequoit; the Roman Catholic Faith Communities of the Canisteo Valley; St. Anne, Palmyra; and St. Gregory, Marion.

Palmesano attended a retirement party for Father Jaeger on Sunday, June 22, at Saint Mary’s in Bath (Saint John Vianney Parish), where he presented a Legislative Resolution (J1080/K) he sponsored with O’Mara, paying tribute to Father Jaeger’s service.

[In the attached photo, Assemblyman Phil Palmesano presented a Legislative Resolution to Father Jim Jaeger at a retirement party in his honor on Sunday, June 22, at Saint Mary’s in Bath. Palmesano was an altar server for Father Jaeger at St. Ann Roman Catholic Church in Hornell. Father Jaeger also performed the wedding ceremony for the Assemblyman and his wife, Laura, on October 2, 1998.]

The resolution was adopted earlier this year by the full New York State Senate and Assembly.

The resolution reads, in part, “Father James Jaeger has touched countless lives through his unwavering commitment to faith, country, and community; his compassionate ministry, humble leadership, and selfless service have left an indelible mark throughout the Southern Tier, the Finger Lakes, and beyond.”

Father Jaeger James Patrick Jaeger was born on April 11, 1957, in Dubuque, Iowa. His family later moved to Canandaigua, New York, where he was confirmed in 1972 at Saint Mary's Church. He completed preparatory studies for the priesthood at Finger Lakes Community College (1976-1978) and Saint John Fisher College (1978-1980), before pursuing theological studies at Immaculate Conception Seminary in South Orange, New Jersey (1981-1985).

He was ordained on May 17, 1986, by Bishop Matthew H. Clark at Holy Name of Jesus Church in Greece, New York.

While in seminary, Father Jaeger’s service extended beyond parish boundaries and included a series of military chaplaincies and active duty deployments with the Air National Guard in France, Germany, England, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, as well as over two decades as a reservist chaplain at Griffiss Air Force Base and the Niagara Falls Air National Guard Base, retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

In a joint statement, O’Mara and Palmesano said, “Father Jim Jaeger has lived a remarkable life of service to his faith, his family, our nation, his beloved Finger Lakes region, and the many parish communities he has served with great care, diligence, strength, and compassion. He has touched so many lives and made so many contributions that will carry on. We are grateful for this opportunity to express heartfelt thanks on behalf of our entire region and to wish Father Jaeger a long, full, and happy retirement. Thank you for your service Father Jim!”

Upon retirement, Father Jaeger will return to his family home in Canandaigua and continue his long-standing chaplaincy at the Canandaigua Veterans Affairs Medical Center and provide sacramental assistance as a senior priest.