Msgr. James F. Campbell 1930-2025

Msgr. James F. Campbell, who served as the longtime rector of St. Joseph Cathedral under three bishops, died June 4, 2025.

Born in South Buffalo on Sept, 9, 1930, the son of James E. Campbell and Mildred (Sutton) Campbell studied at Buffalo State Teacher’s College during the start of the Korean War. Not wanting to delay his studies, he joined a Platoon Leaders Class, an ROTC-like class that allowed him to join the service after graduation. He went on to serve two years in the Marines, participating into a relief mission after a 7.2 earthquake hit Greece.

After earning a master’s degree from the American University in Louvain, Belgium, he was ordained a priest June 27, 1964, in Louvain by Bishop Charles Buswell of Pueblo, Colorado.

He spent his first year as a priest at Sacred Heart Mission in Angelica.

The next year, he became a professor and assistant director of the Diocesan Preparatory Seminary in Buffalo. He went on to be a procurator, teacher, assistant principal and principal at Bishop Turner High School, then in Buffalo. This led to a three-year term as superintendent of Schools beginning in 1981.

In 1984, Msgr. Campbell was named pastor of Queen of Heaven Parish in West Seneca. In 1997, he began a 17-year run as rector of St. Joseph Cathedral until his retirement.

Msgr. Campbell also served as chaplain of the Buffalo Fire Department, chaplain of the Buffalo Police Department, and chaplain of the Buffalo Office of the FBI, as well as being a member of the Diocesan Finance Council and the Buffalo Erie County Historical Society.

Reflecting on his ministry, Msgr. Campbell told the Western New York Catholic, “You felt like you were doing something. You were part of a great organization that was doing something. There were dedicated people all around you.”

He is predeceased by his parents and his brother William H. Campbell.

The family will receive friends Tuesday, June 10, from 3-7 p.m. at the James W. Cannan Funeral Home, 3155 Orchard Park Road, Orchard Park. Msgr. Campbell will lie-in-repose on Wednesday, June 11, from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph Cathedral, 50 Franklin St., Buffalo, followed by a funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. Bishop Michael W. Fisher will be the main celebrant.