James S. Wall

Styles of James Wall
Reference style	The Most Reverend
Spoken style	Your Excellency
Religious style	Monsignor
Posthumous style	none

James Sean Wall (born October 11, 1964) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He currently serves as Bishop of Gallup.

Early life and education

James Wall was born on the Navajo Nation in Ganado, Arizona, to James and Joan (née Hamilton) Wall. His parents converted to Catholicism after coming into contact with two Franciscan friars. One of six children, he has three sisters, Toni, Shani, and Kelly, and two brothers, Scott and Craig. He graduated from Chandler High School in 1983 and attended Arizona State University, from where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in History in 1993.

Wall then studied at St. John's Seminary in Camarillo, California, earning a Master's in Divinity in 1998. He also studied at the Liturgical Institute of St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois.

Priesthood

Wall was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Thomas O'Brien on June 6, 1998. He then served as parochial vicar at St. Theresa Parish in Phoenix until 2001, and at St. Timothy Parish in Mesa from 2001 to 2002.

In 2002, Wall became pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Phoenix. He remained at St. Thomas until his appointment to the diocesan chancery as Vicar for Priests in 2007. In addition to his pastoral duties, he also served as Administrator pro tempore of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish (2007) and Director of the Mount Claret Retreat Center (2008-2009).

From 2003 to 2007, he was a member of the National Advisory Council for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Episcopal career

On February 5, 2009, Wall was appointed the fourth Bishop of Gallup, New Mexico, by Pope Benedict XVI.

Bishop Wall took over the diocese after its former bishop, Donald Edmond Pelotte, resigned having previously been granted a one year leave of absence beginning in January 2008, to recover from a fall he suffered on July 23, 2007. Thomas J. Olmsted, Bishop of Phoenix, was appointed apostolic administrator sede plena by Pope Benedict for the duration of Bishop Pelotte's absence. On 30 April 2008 the Pope Benedict accepted the resignation from the pastoral government of the Diocese of Gallup, presented by Bishop Pelotte, in accordance with canon 401 § 2 of the Code of Canon Law.

Bishop Wall took canonical possession of the Diocese at his consecration and installation on 23 April 2009.

Bishop Wall was the second youngest US Bishop at the age of 44 (Bishop Cantú is the youngest) and the youngest in charge of a diocese.

Notes

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Donald Edmond Pelotte	Bishop of Gallup 5 February 2009–incumbent	Succeeded by incumbent