Father James F. Stoyle

Father James F. Stoyle, 81, of Kendallville, Indiana died Wednesday, March 25, 2026, as the result of an auto accident in rural Kendallville.

Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on October 6, 1944, he was the youngest child of David and Catherine (Lamb) Stoyle. His siblings preceded him in death, David, Ann, Catherine, Mary Lou, and Lawrence.

Like Mary in St. Luke’s Gospel who decided to listen to Jesus speak rather than help her sister, Martha, serve, Father James F. Stoyle eventually followed his heart and chose the priesthood over a promising secular career.

“I am definitely happy about the decision I made,” said Father Stoyle in anticipation of his 25-year jubilee of priesthood.

Father Stoyle attributed the fact that his parents were both daily communicants, along with the teachings of the Sisters of Charity at Resurrection School and the presence of four priests at the Pittsburgh parish, all as influential in his desire to become a priest as early as second grade. His high school and college studies were at St. Meinrad Seminary & School of Theology in St. Meinrad, Indiana, then a minor seminary. He studied theology and philosophy, minoring in English, history, social studies, French, classic languages and education. Prior to being ordained, however, he had some doubts about committing to the priesthood and he asked to take two years off. But, the decision demanded an immediate “yes” or “no” answer, so he chose the negative.

He taught English and history, served as a training director and an operational manager, all in the Pittsburgh area. Later, he began working in Chicago as an executive assistant to a corporate president and as a general manager. He then started his own consulting business and sought out a smaller town near an airport. He chose South Bend and began attending Mass at St. Matthew Cathedral. That’s where he met Bishop Joseph R. Crowley, auxiliary bishop and rector of St. Matthew Cathedral, who became his spiritual advisor and asked him if he was still considering the priesthood.

The two-year absence from pursuing his ordination had grown to 21 years, but he felt the call was still there. So, at age 42, he enrolled in Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary near Boston, again studying philosophy even though he had earned a master’s degree in the subject from Duquesne University. He was ordained to the diaconate by Bishop Crowley and a week later to the priesthood by Bishop John M. D’Arcy on Nov. 16, 1991, in St. Matthew Cathedral.

Father Stoyle’s initial assignment as associate pastor was at St. Thomas the Apostle, Elkhart. Eighteen months later he was appointed pastor at St. Jude, South Bend, and also served at Sacred Heart of Jesus, Lakeville. During his stay, he oversaw major repairs to the church and school, and the school reached its capacity of 254 children. In 2001, he was named pastor of St. Monica, Mishawaka, where he was instrumental in obtaining a gift to add air conditioning to both the church and school. He began serving as an associate pastor at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Fort Wayne, in 2005, where he taught a weekly adult Scripture class during the day and an evening theology class.

In 2010, Father Stoyle began serving as pastor of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Kendallville. Again, he arranged for needed repairs to the church and basement, repainted walls, redecorated the Stations of the Cross, raised-up the main altar and erected reredos behind it, and many other improvements. He also had a new Allen organ installed equipped with a synthesizer-like device that enabled him, as the church organist, to record/play the organ music for weekend Masses. He began playing an organ in church when he was 13 and studied piano at the Chicago Musical College which later merged with Roosevelt University’s School of Music. He retired from Immaculate Conception in 2019.

Father Stoyle said, when his feet hit the floor every morning, he immediately says, “Deo Gratias” (“Thanks be to God”) for another day, whatever happens. “As St. Paul said, ‘In all circumstances give thanks’” (1Th 5:18).

Visitation for Father Stoyle will be Wednesday, April 1, 2026, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. with a rosary at 7 p.m. at Young Family Funeral Home, Kendallville Chapel, 222 South State Street Kendallville.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Monday, April 6, 2026, at 11 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 301 East Diamond Street, Kendallville.

Burial will follow in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Avilla.

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