Chaminade President Rev. Williams Steps Down

Fr. James Williams, S.M. announced in a letter to school personnel, alumni and students Monday that he will be stepping down from his post as President.

The undated letter, which was released on August 1, states that Williams will stay on at the all-boys Catholic high school “insuring a smooth transition.”

A member of the Chaminade Class of 1986, Williams was named president of the school one year after being ordained but indicated a conflict arising between his duties between his roles as both a Catholic priest and head of the school.

“I have found myself at a unique personal intersection, where my responsibility to address the needs of Chaminade High School as President and my vocation to respond to the needs of God’s people as a priest compete with each other for time,” he writes. “I believe I am being called by God to devote more energy to priestly ministry.”

Succeeding Williams will be Dean of Students Bro. Thomas Cleary, S.M. A member of the Chaminade Class of 1981, Cleary has served as the school’s dean since 1991 and was named the Provincial head of the Marianist Province of Meribah in 2007, assuming the position in June, 2008. 

Williams will reportedly be remaining with the school as a teacher and will not be transferred to another area within the Province of Meribah, the Marianist order in which he serves. The Marianist order also operates Kellenberg Memorial High School, a co-ed school for grades six through 12 in Uniondale.

“I look forward to continuing to serve as a teacher and counselor, activity and CAPA moderator,” Williams’s letter says.