Father James G. Knapp, SJ, died Dec. 20, 2024, in Florissant, Missouri. He was 73 years old, a Jesuit for 55 years and a priest for 43 years.
December 2024 – Father James G. Knapp, SJ, died Dec. 20, 2024, in Florissant, Missouri. He was 73 years old, a Jesuit for 55 years and a priest for 43 years.
He will be remembered at a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in the Chapel of the Beloved Disciple at St. Louis University High School. A visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m. in the same location. Burial will be in the Jesuit plot at Calvary Cemetery, immediately following the funeral Mass.
The funeral Mass will be livestreamed via the St. Louis University High School YouTube channel.
James Gerard Knapp was born March 15, 1951, in St. Louis. His parents, Warren F. and Mildred M. Knapp predeceased him. He is survived by his sister, Jacquelyn M. Syberg. Following his graduation from St. Louis University High School, he entered the Society of Jesus at St. Stanislaus Seminary in Florissant, Missouri, on Sept. 1, 1969, and pronounced first vows on Sept. 2, 1971. He was ordained a priest on June 18, 1981, at St. Francis Xavier College Church in St. Louis, and pronounced final vows in the Society on May 8, 1996, at St. Louis University High School.
Father Knapp began his teaching career in 1975 at St. Louis University High School. From 1982 to 1986, he taught religion and ran the pastoral program at Rockhurst High School in Kansas City. He spent the 1986-87 school year at Fordham University in the Jesuit Secondary School Administrators Program (JSSAP) run by the Commission on Research and Development of the JSEA. In this program he earned a professional diploma in high school administration from Fordham in 1987. With this credential in hand, he was assigned to Regis High School in Denver as assistant principal 1987-89 and then principal 1989-93. He then returned to SLU High in 1994 and remained there until 2011, except for a brief sabbatical in 2003.
In 2011, Fr. Knapp was assigned to Kenrick-Glennon Seminary for the Archdiocese of St. Louis, where he was a spiritual director and assistant professor of theology. In 2015, he was assigned to pastoral ministry, and in 2019, he began a ministry of prayer.
Father Knapp is remembered by his Jesuit brothers as bright, gifted and congenial. He inherited St. Ignatius’ special zeal for fostering the faith and moral life of youth. He also embodied the magis, as seen in his enduring commitment to deepening old skills and developing new ones—even pursuing a doctorate well past the age of 50. He loved the outdoors (especially Wyoming and Alaska) as much as he loved books. His profound faith, joyful priestly spirit and gentle care for others remained part of his character to the end.
Father Knapp earned bachelor’s degrees in philosophy and education at Saint Louis University, a Master of Divinity in theology and a Master of theology at Regis College in Toronto, and a doctorate in sacred theology at the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family at the Catholic University of America.
We remember with gratitude all that God has done through his life of service to God and God’s people.
Memorial gifts may be made to the USA Central and Southern Province of the Society of Jesus at 4511 West Pine Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63108 or through this website.
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