Challancin, James, Rev.

Rev. James Challancin (1941-) born in Crystal Falls, Mich. He attended Forest Park schools, earned his B.A. from St. Jerome's College, Kitchner, Ontario, Canada. After serving two years at the parish of Holy Name of Mary, Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., Challancin was sent to Sant Anselmo, Rome, Italy where he earned both his M.A. and S.T.D. (Doctorate in Sacred Theology). He has taught or served at: St. John's Seminary, Plymouth, Mich.; Marquette, Mich.; St. Joseph College, Rensselaer, Ind.; St. Joseph Church, Ishpeming, Mich.; and Peramiho Seminary, Tanzania, East Africa. As a child, Challancin developed a life-long love and collecting interest in all things circus when a neighbor took him to circuses. He later worked on several circuses and has provided pastoral care to circus performers and staff of the Kelly-Miller and the Carson and Barnes circuses, the latter with the Little Sisters of Jesus. He learned Spanish to communicate and celebrate mass to Spanish-speaking circus folk. As of 2011 Challancin no longer traveled with circuses. (This information is from the collection.)