Our Host

Deacon James S. Friend, Jr., M.A., M.A.P.S.

Deacon Jim Friend brings over 30 years of dedicated service to advancing the mission of the Church through philanthropy, leadership, and ministry. His career began in the 1990s with parish ministry, where he served as a Youth Minister, Director of Religious Education, and Parish Administrator. In 2002, Jim transitioned to the world of Catholic fundraising, first as a consultant and later as the head of development for the Diocese of Allentown (2006) and subsequently for Catholic Education in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia (2014). In 2023, he became the Director of Mission Advancement at the Saint John Vianney Center in Downingtown, Pennsylvania, where he is building a new Mission Advancement Office to sustain and expand the Center’s vital mission of serving clergy and religious.

In 2017, Jim launched the Advancing Our Church podcast to foster dialogue around Catholic stewardship, leadership, and advancement. Over the years, the podcast has expanded to explore a wide range of topics, including evangelization, finance, and even Bitcoin. Its mission is to inspire listeners by highlighting how everyone can contribute to advancing the Church through temporal services, evangelization, and leadership.

Jim holds a B.A. from West Chester University (1998) and a Master’s Degree in English and Publishing from Rosemont College (2002). In 2024, he was ordained a Permanent Deacon in the Diocese of Allentown, following the completion of his Master’s Degree in Pastoral Ministry from Saint Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry. His pastoral assignment is at the Cathedral Church of Saint Catharine of Siena in Allentown.

In 2020, Jim and his wife, Kristin, founded a YouTube ministry called Kristin’s Crosses, offering the Rosary and other prayer videos. Jim also shares a daily Gospel reading and reflection, helping viewers deepen their faith and connection to the Church.

To connect with Deacon Jim Friend, follow him on LinkedIn and Twitter/X.