Reverend Monsignor James M. Oliver was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, on October 5, 1959. He is the second of six sons born to Joseph M. Oliver and Beverly A. Pearsons. Shortly after his birth his family moved to South Acton, Massachusetts where he was baptized at Saint Elizabeth of Hungary Church on April 3, 1960. After two other moves, both within the state of Connecticut, the family settled in Springfield (Delaware County), Pennsylvania (1965). Monsignor Oliver grew up as a member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Morton. He graduated from Springfield High School in 1977.
After attending Pennsylvania State University (Delaware County Campus), he completed a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education at the Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio. After teaching elementary school for one year, he entered Saint Charles Seminary in September 1983 where he earned a Master of Divinity in 1987 and a Master of Arts in Theology in 1988. He was ordained a priest on May 21, 1988, by Cardinal Anthony Bevilaqua.
After ordination Monsignor Oliver served in a number of capacities including Parochial Vicar, Saint Alphonsus Parish, Maple Glen (1988-1993), Chaplain, Bishop McDevitt High School (1988-1990); and Advocate, Office of the Metropolitan Tribunal (1990-1993).
He was assigned to further studies in Canon Law at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome in 1993. He graduated with a Doctorate in Canon Law in 1999. Following the completion of these studies, Monsignor Oliver served as Vice Chancellor and Assistant Professor of Canon Law at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary (1999-2004); Assistant to the Vicar for Clergy (2004-2007); Promoter of Justice (2003-2018); Canonical Notary, Office of the Vicar for Clergy (2004-2018); Vice Chancellor, Archdiocese of Philadelphia (2005-2018); and Assistant Vicar for Clergy (2011-2018).
In February 2018, at the request of the Holy See, Monsignor Oliver was assigned to serve the Vatican’s Dicastery for Clergy in Rome. On August 26, 2025, Msgr. Oliver has been assigned as Pastor at St. Bridget Parish.