James Keller
Encyclopedia
Father James Keller, M.M. (June 27, 1900 – February 7, 1977) was a Roman
Catholic priest
in the Maryknoll Order
. In 1945 he founded of The Christophers
, a Christian
inspirational group which broadcast a weekly inspirational television show (of the same name) on ABC
. ABC canceled the show in the mid-1960s; Keller continued to produce it, however, and it is still syndicated to local television stations. The Christophers
also award the Christopher Awards each year, primarily to media that exemplify the human spirit, and have a weekly syndicated radio show.
After a brief stint in the US Army, Keller entered a seminary in Menlo Park
, California. After two years, he was inspired by contacts with Father Thomas F. Price and Father James Anthony Walsh
, leaders of the Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America, more familiarly known as Maryknoll
. In 1921, he left California forever, to attend the Maryknoll Seminary in Ossining, New York
.
He spent the summer of 1922 doing orderly work and watching medical and surgical procedures at St. Vincent's Hospital
in New York, in order to prepare himself for mission work in areas without medical care. In 1923, he was ordained subdeacon
and made a commitment to lifetime celibacy. He then continued his education at Catholic University
in Washington, D.C., where he received his baccalaureate and, the following year, a master's degree in medieval history. From a professor, Peter Guilday, he learned the importance of historical trends as opposed to individual occurrences. In 1925 he was, atypically, ordained in his parish church in Menlo Park, largely because his archbishop thought he would get a better crowd, which would be exposed to the Maryknoll movement.
He was surprised when he was told to remain in California for a vacation while awaiting assignment. Then he learned that Fr. McCormack, who headed the small Maryknoll chapter in San Francisco, had been assigned to a mission in China, and that he was to take over as chapter head at the age of 25, fresh out of school.
Keller never received an overseas mission assignment.
Keller starred in a 1951 documentary called You Can Change the World that was based on his teachings. He went on to be the host of a 1950s and 1960s television show called Christopher Closeup.
Roman Catholic (term)
The term Roman Catholic appeared in the English language at the beginning of the 17th century, to differentiate specific groups of Christians in communion with the Pope from others; comparable terms in other languages already existed...
Catholic priest
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
in the Maryknoll Order
Maryknoll
Maryknoll is a name shared by three organizations that are part of the Roman Catholic Church and whose joint focus is on the overseas mission activity of the Catholic Church in the United States...
. In 1945 he founded of The Christophers
The Christophers
The Christophers are a Christian inspirational group that was founded in 1945 by Father James Keller. The name of the group is derived from the Greek word "christophoros", which means "Christ-bearer"...
, a Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
inspirational group which broadcast a weekly inspirational television show (of the same name) on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
. ABC canceled the show in the mid-1960s; Keller continued to produce it, however, and it is still syndicated to local television stations. The Christophers
The Christophers
The Christophers are a Christian inspirational group that was founded in 1945 by Father James Keller. The name of the group is derived from the Greek word "christophoros", which means "Christ-bearer"...
also award the Christopher Awards each year, primarily to media that exemplify the human spirit, and have a weekly syndicated radio show.
Early years
Keller's father was an Irish immigrant named James Kelleher, who changed his name to Keller to avoid anti-Irish sentiment. His mother, Margaret Selby, was Irish on her mother's side and Portuguese on her father's. James Jr. was born in Oakland, California, in 1900, the fourth of six children in a devout Roman Catholic household.After a brief stint in the US Army, Keller entered a seminary in Menlo Park
Menlo Park, California
Menlo Park, California is a city at the eastern edge of San Mateo County, in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, in the United States. It is bordered by San Francisco Bay on the north and east; East Palo Alto, Palo Alto, and Stanford to the south; Atherton, North Fair Oaks, and Redwood City...
, California. After two years, he was inspired by contacts with Father Thomas F. Price and Father James Anthony Walsh
James Anthony Walsh
James Anthony Walsh was the co-founder of Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers.- Background :The son of James Walsh and Hanna Shea, James Anthony was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts...
, leaders of the Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America, more familiarly known as Maryknoll
Maryknoll
Maryknoll is a name shared by three organizations that are part of the Roman Catholic Church and whose joint focus is on the overseas mission activity of the Catholic Church in the United States...
. In 1921, he left California forever, to attend the Maryknoll Seminary in Ossining, New York
Ossining (village), New York
Ossining is a village in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 25,060 at the 2010 census. As a village, it is located in the Town of Ossining.-Geography:Ossining borders the eastern shores of the widest part of the Hudson River....
.
He spent the summer of 1922 doing orderly work and watching medical and surgical procedures at St. Vincent's Hospital
Saint Vincent's Catholic Medical Center
Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Centers ' was a healthcare system, anchored by its flagship hospital, St. Vincent's Hospital Manhattan, locally referred to as "St. Vincent's". St. Vincent's was founded in 1849 and closed in 2010...
in New York, in order to prepare himself for mission work in areas without medical care. In 1923, he was ordained subdeacon
Subdeacon
-Subdeacons in the Orthodox Church:A subdeacon or hypodeacon is the highest of the minor orders of clergy in the Orthodox Church. This order is higher than the reader and lower than the deacon.-Canonical Discipline:...
and made a commitment to lifetime celibacy. He then continued his education at Catholic University
The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America is a private university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution of higher education founded by the U.S. Catholic bishops...
in Washington, D.C., where he received his baccalaureate and, the following year, a master's degree in medieval history. From a professor, Peter Guilday, he learned the importance of historical trends as opposed to individual occurrences. In 1925 he was, atypically, ordained in his parish church in Menlo Park, largely because his archbishop thought he would get a better crowd, which would be exposed to the Maryknoll movement.
He was surprised when he was told to remain in California for a vacation while awaiting assignment. Then he learned that Fr. McCormack, who headed the small Maryknoll chapter in San Francisco, had been assigned to a mission in China, and that he was to take over as chapter head at the age of 25, fresh out of school.
Keller never received an overseas mission assignment.
Keller starred in a 1951 documentary called You Can Change the World that was based on his teachings. He went on to be the host of a 1950s and 1960s television show called Christopher Closeup.