January 1, 2009
Father Wilkinson was born in Sunderland, England, on July 7, 1917. After completing his seminary studies at Hawkstone Hall, Marchamley, Shrewsbury, England, he was ordained a Redemptorist in St. Joseph’s Church, Hodnot, England, on September 19, 1942 by Bishop Ambrose J. Morriarity. Following further education, he taught in Liverpool, England, from 1947 to1950. In the Diocese of Wichita he was an assistant in Holy Name Parish in Winfield. As pastor he served at Immaculate Conception, Burns, with Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Spring Branch, as a mission; St. Anne, Wichita, as founding pastor; St. Leo, St. Leo; St. Mary, Derby; St. Patrick, Walnut; Immaculate Conception, Danville; and St. Joseph, Ost. Father Wilkinson also worked with Marriage Encounter during his priesthood. Following his retirement on October 1, 1992 he lived at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, at Blessed Sacrament Parish, at the Priest Retirement Center and for the last five years of his life in England where he died on January 1, 2009. The Catholic Advance noted, “When Father James S. Wilkinson began Mass as a visiting priest, ears perked up to his resonant, refined British accent. It reflected his personality, a gentleman priest known by his parishioners as a man generous with his time and his love.” (the Catholic Advance, Jan. 16, 2009) Bishop Emeritus Gerber and the priests of the Diocese of Wichita joined Bishop Jackels, who was principal celebrant, and Msgr. John Gilsenan, who was homilist, at a Memorial Mass for Father Wilkinson on January 8, 2009 in the St. Elizabeth Chapel of the Catholic Care Center. Bishop Jackels was principal celebrant and homilist of a Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, England on January 12, 2009. Father Wilkinson was buried in England.