Fr. James Lanigan was born in Templetuohy County, Tipperary, Ireland. James Lanigan was the oldest of seven children. He was educated in St. Patrick’s, Carlow, Ireland and at the American College in Louvain, Belgium. After his ordination in July 1914, he was assigned to the Pacific Northwest. He served as hospital chaplain in Aberdeen, Washington State before becoming an assistant at St. James Cathedral, and the pastor of St. Margaret’s. He was permanently assigned to Holy Rosary in 1924 after having served as pastor pro tem for two months.

- From the 1951 Northwest Progress.