• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
Deacon James Bors pauses for a photo prior to Chrism Mass April 11, 2022 at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

Deacon Bors follows unusual path to the priesthood

June 2, 2022
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Feature, Local News, New Priests 2022, News, Vocations

Note: Archbishop William E. Lori will ordain five men to the priesthood June 18 at 10 a.m. at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland. The following is a profile of one of those future priests. Click here to read profiles of the other new priests. 

As a midshipman at the U.S. Naval Academy more than four decades ago, Deacon James Bors saw something in his Protestant friends that was missing in his own life: a personal relationship with Christ.

Although Deacon Bors grew up in a Catholic family, attended a parish in Prince George’s County and had good faith examples in his parents, his commitment to his religious beliefs wasn’t on the same level as the Protestant midshipmen he encountered in Annapolis.

From left, Deacon James Bors, Jeff, Jeff’s wife Julia, and Michael at Kailua Beach, Hawaii where Jeff and Julia lived for five years while serving in the Coast Guard and Air Force. (Courtesy Bors family)

At their invitation, Deacon Bors joined Bible studies and began deep conversations about what it means to be a Christian. His heart was set on fire for the love of Christ in a new way, he said.

“My Protestant brothers at the academy were very serious and very deliberate about their relationship with Christ and their love for the Scriptures,” remembered Deacon Bors, who left the Catholic Church for about a year and a half while at the academy. “They helped my faith really grow by leaps and bounds.”

Despite his new enthusiasm, Deacon Bors was not entirely comfortable as a Protestant. The faith of his childhood tugged at him and he eventually returned to his Catholic roots. After being challenged by a Protestant friend to defend Catholic teachings some 15 years after graduating from the academy, he devoted himself to studying doctrines on the Blessed Virgin Mary, the papacy and the sacraments.

The more he learned, the more he fell in love with Catholicism. The commitment grew so strong that Deacon Bors decided to devote the rest of his life to serving God and the church. He will be ordained to the priesthood June 18 at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland.

“One of the main reasons I felt called to become a priest was this knowledge and assurance that the Catholic faith is rooted in Scripture, history and tradition – and in logic,” he explained. “It just all fits together. It’s organic. It’s integrated. It’s one.”

Deacon Bors acknowledged that he took an unusual path to the priesthood.

James and Shirley Bors were married February 16, 1985 at a submarine base in Groton, Conn. She died in 2010. (Courtesy Bors family)

As a naval officer, he did classified work on the USS Birmingham SSN 695 submarine. He was a classroom instructor at the academy and spent 25 years in manufacturing and consulting.

He and his wife, Shirley, raised two sons at St. Andrew by the Bay in Annapolis, where Deacon Bors was involved in everything from Bible study to faith-sharing programs.

Then, after his wife took her own life in 2010, Deacon Bors discovered a new level of spiritual support from his fellow parishioners who offered consolation and encouragement.

“It was the parishioners themselves who started asking me to think about and pray about the priesthood,” he remembered. “After a few years of discernment, it just became clear that the Lord was calling me.”

As he began studies at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Deacon Bors noticed parallels between his military life and the religious life.

“Both the Naval Academy and the seminary are very focused on formation,” he said. “One shapes you to serve your country and the other shapes you to serve God.”

Deacon Bors said he is indebted to his Protestant friends for helping him deepen his faith. He’s looking forward to sharing his love of God with others as a priest – and he is devoting his priesthood to his wife’s memory.

“I just want to take them deeper in their walk with the Lord,” he said, “to help them to know and understand him deeper in the Scriptures and to help them be faithful witnesses.”

Email George Matysek at gmatysek@CatholicReview.org

Read More Vocations

Prodigal son to priest

Over 20,000 permanent deacons serve church, but death, retirement bring overall number down

Future priest from Congo has a heart of service

Pope’s brother says even as a baby, future pontiff had a spiritual ‘air’ about him

Incoming superior general of Oblate Sisters of Providence outlines priorities

Pope Leo’s core identity is Augustinian, say religious

Copyright © 2022 Catholic Review Media

Print Print

Primary Sidebar

George P. Matysek Jr.

Click here to view all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

| MOST POPULAR |

  • Pope Leo to return to practice of ‘imposing’ pallium on new archbishops

  • Archbishop Lori announces appointments, including pastor and associate pastor assignments

  • Pope’s brother says even as a baby, future pontiff had a spiritual ‘air’ about him

  • Diversity is cause for strength, not division, pope tells Rome clergy

  • Pope sets Sept. 7 for joint canonization of Blesseds Acutis and Frassati

| Latest Local News |

Prodigal son to priest

Radio Interview: Books and Authors: Inspiring Trailblazers

Future priest from Congo has a heart of service

Sister Joan Minella, former principal and pastoral life director, dies

Archbishop Lori offers encouragement to charitable agencies affected by federal cuts

| Latest World News |

High court sends Catholic groups’ challenge to N.Y. abortion-coverage mandate back to state courts

Religious Liberty Commission examines imperiled Native American sacred site, mandatory reporter law

As ‘new nightmare’ unfolds between Israel and Iran, ‘never-ending tragedy’ in Gaza continues

Pope asks Italian bishops to proclaim the Gospel, teach peace

Pope Leo XIV will escape Rome’s heat in July by going to papal villa

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • High court sends Catholic groups’ challenge to N.Y. abortion-coverage mandate back to state courts
  • Religious Liberty Commission examines imperiled Native American sacred site, mandatory reporter law
  • As ‘new nightmare’ unfolds between Israel and Iran, ‘never-ending tragedy’ in Gaza continues
  • Thank you to a one-of-a-kind teacher
  • Pope asks Italian bishops to proclaim the Gospel, teach peace
  • Pope Leo XIV will escape Rome’s heat in July by going to papal villa
  • Almost half of U.S. adults have Catholic connection, but Mass makes significant difference in Catholic identity
  • Prodigal son to priest
  • U.S. bishop calls for ardent prayer, diplomacy as Israel-Iran strikes continue

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED