Jim Sweany and his wife of 26 years, Ferne, have been members of St. Mary of the Woods for twenty-one years. Jim and Ferne are the proud parents of two sons: Sean Patrick studies Latin, Greek and Classical Civilizations at Notre Dame, while Jack is a student at St. Ignatius High School.

Jim’s involvement in parish ministry includes the Parish Council and for over two years now, the Facilities Planning Committee. He is a Lector and Eucharistic Minister. Previously, Jim co-chaired the school’s fundraising drive for the new addition, and was a past president of both the Holy Name Society and a School Board member. He knows a lot about what’s happening at St. Mary of the Woods!

As National Equipment Manager for Gatorade/Tropicana, Jim is responsible for marketing all refrigerated equipment for these brands and he is accustomed to being in a highly visible position.

Jim believes that building a faith community is important. He envisions a people living their faith, expressing their faith when dealing with one another, and showing compassion, acceptance, and tolerance for each other. He sees a community that celebrates together and supports one another with great hope and aspirations for the future.

“The Parish visioning project has something in it for everyone; I want to be part of making St. Mary’s a better place. It speaks to who we are and how we relate to one another from the very young to the seniors of the Parish. What we build and how we choose to worship says a lot about who we are”. Jim believes that St. Mary’s is the centerpiece of our community. It’s the place where we gather and embrace one another as community. It’s our sacred and communal focal point where we worship, learn, play and celebrate together.