Canon Wells was ordained a Deacon in the Diocese of Springfield in 2015 and Priest in 2016. He is a second career priest who retired from a 40+ year career in serving law enforcement agencies at the county and state levels of policing. He retired as an Executive Inspector General having served 4-consecutive terms confirmed by the Illinois Senate. Upon ordination to the diaconate, Canon Wells was employed as a Chaplain to Saint John’s Hospital in Springfield. He also served as a supply priest throughout the Diocese during that period. In 2017, he was appointed the Assisting Priest at the Cathedral of Saint Paul the Apostle in Springfield where he served until December, 2023 when appointed the Interim Rector at Saint John the Apostle Church in Decatur.

Canon Wells is a graduate of Nashotah House Theological Seminary in Wisconsin with a Master in Pastoral Ministry (MPM) degree and a Master in Ministry (MMin) degree. He has also earned academic degrees from Lewis University in Romeoville, Illinois (MS in Criminal Justice Administration) and Elmhurst College in Elmhurst, Illinois (BS in Business Management and Urban Studies). Canon Wells holds several professional certifications and was an adjunct instructor for the US Department of Justice and the Federal Law Enforcement Training Academy in Georgia. He is currently a Chaplain for the Illinois State Police.

Canon Wells is married to Mary Ellen, his best friend. They reside in Springfield and are happy to worship at St. Luke’s.

The Venerable Olugbenga Fagbemi is a native of Owo, Ondo State, in Southwest Nigeria. He served as a priest in Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion). Fr. Fagbemi obtained the requisite Diploma in Theology from Archbishop Vining College of Theology Akure in 1995; made a Deacon in 1996, ordained a Priest in 1997 and preferred a Venerable in the Diocese of Lagos West in 2009. He obtained the B.Sc (Hons) in Modern Studies from the University of Coventry United Kingdom. Fr. Fagbemi also served the Diocese of Lagos West, as the Chairman of the Directorate of Evangelism- Deliverance/Healing Ministries and presided over many parishes. He is happily married to Dr. Mrs. Tokunbo Ijeoma Fagbemi and they are blessed with three children. We are thrilled to welcome Fr. Fagbemi to the St. Luke’s family.

Jim was born into a loving Catholic farm family in Beardstown, Illinois, the second of 12 children. He began piano lessons at age 8, and continued through high school. With a full scholarship, Jim graduated from the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago. Jim started his professional career at Dixon State School, one hundred miles west of Chicago. That job changed his life forever when Jim discovered the healing power of Music Therapy. Jim returned to graduate school, Michigan State University, and earned a master’s degree in Music Therapy. He became a Board-Certified Music Therapist and created a Music Therapy Program at the Illinois State Psychiatric Institute in Chicago. Invited by DePaul University, Jim created the first Music Therapy Degree in Illinois and acted as Assistant Professor for 7 years. Jim’s accolades include being invited to be a United States delegate to the first annual symposium on Music and Therapy in Montpelier, France and directing the Chicago Renaissance Consort, performing many concerts in and around Chicago. In 1997, Jim returned to Springfield to become Director of Music at Springfield College and received the Distinguished Faculty Award in 2001. When college closed in 2003, Jim became Music Director at several churches in the St. Louis Archdiocese, over a ten-year period and taught music in Catholic Schools in St. Louis during the pandemic. Jim is now bringing sacred music to St. Luke’s and we are very blessed to have him join us. Be sure to chat with Jim about his life’s journey, his musical philosophies, and love of sacred music.