Fr. Tom Willis was born in 1957 at St. Augustine, Florida. His parents (both deceased) are Samuel and Lillian Willis. Fr. Tom has one sister, Tina, who is married to Steve West; they have two children, Stephanie and Kyle.

Fr. Tom grew up in St. Augustine and was educated in the local Catholic schools. He attended St. Meinrad College (B.A., 1980) and St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary (M.Div., 1983) for his priestly formation and was ordained on May 26, 1984. Post-graduate work took him to the University of Notre Dame where he received an M.A. in Liturgical Studies (1990). He has served in many parishes and positions in the Diocese of St. Augustine including Director of Liturgy, Chair of the Presbyteral Council, Chair of the Diocesan Sacramental Guidelines Committee, and Dean of the North Jacksonville Deanery. He also serves as Catholic chaplain to the NFL’s Jacksonville Jagurs. Active in community affairs he is on the Executive Committee of the City of Jacksonville’s Blueprint for Prosperity.

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