Fr. Jim Lewis, O. Carm, who joined the counseling department this summer, might be new to the students, but this is not Fr. Jim’s first ride with Mount Carmel. Fr. Jim started his teaching career at Mount Carmel in January 1984 and served on the faculty until 1988.

Even that was not Fr. Jim’s first experience with the Caravan, since he was a Mount Carmel student from 1968-1972. As a student he was a four year member of the varsity baseball team and, with a few other underclassmen, was called up to varsity freshman year. During that year, he played with a senior named Frank Lenti who turned out to be the greatest Illinois football coach of all time. By the time Fr. Jim was a senior, he had made his own mark and was named a captain of the baseball team.

When Fr. Jim’s four years were up at 6410 S. Dante, he began his formation to become a Carmelite in 1972 when he studied at Carmel Hall at Marquette University. Mount Carmel was his first assignment after graduating from Marquette and ordination.  Following his first tenure at Mount Carmel, he taught at Joliet Catholic until 1994. After Joliet, Fr. Jim earned another degree from Loyola University in clinical social work, a program that included a two year internship.

Fr.Jim then moved on to the University of Notre Dame, serving as a chaplain for the overseas study program in London for two years. Returning to the Notre Dame campus, he worked as a full time residence director in Carroll Hall, where he also drew from his social worker background to contribute to alcohol and drug education at the university.

When asked about the changes at Mount Carmel, Fr. Jim was quick to point out the growth of the campus in both size and academics. Fr. Jim takes a unique view on the first two months of the school year. “August and September are a school year of it’s own. Everyone is getting back into school and learning everything again.”

Fr. Jim also stated that “the unfolding of the school year and seeing how the school year goes” is the most exciting part of coming back to Mount Carmel for his third time.