By Christie L. Chicoine
CS&T Staff Writer
As newly ordained Auxiliary Bishop Timothy C. Senior continues to do his part to build up the Church as a priest and now as a Bishop, he can be certain that his siblings, Jim Senior and Myra Senior DiNicola, will continue to do their fair share as devoted laity of the Philadelphia Archdiocese.
This fall, Jim Senior, a member of St. Rose of Lima Parish in North Wales, Montgomery County, will begin studies as an aspirant in the Archdiocese’s Permanent Diaconate Program.
Myra, a member of St. Eleanor Parish in Collegeville, Montgomery County, is the principal of St. Norbert School in Paoli, Chester County.
She has also taught at Ancillae- Assumpta Academy in Wyncote, St. Anthony of Padua School, Ambler, and as an adjunct professor at Gwynedd-Mercy College.
As principal, promoting St. Norbert School’s Catholic identity is a high priority to Myra, as is keeping students happy. “Children have to be happy to learn,” she said.
If there is a dispute between students she gets to the bottom of the problem by leading the youth in prayer before their meeting with her officially begins.
Myra is also a professional musician. She sings and is a classical guitarist and has served as a cantor at her parish. She has also served as a member of its home and school association.
The second of the three Senior children, Myra graduated from St. Joseph School in Ambler and from North Penn High School in Lansdale. She received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education with dual certification in music education from Chestnut Hill College. She also earned a master’s degree in education from Arcadia University and certification in administration from Immaculata University.
Myra Senior DiNicola’s family also includes husband Ronald; a daughter, 13-year-old Myra Katharine; and a deceased son, Matthew.
The oldest of the three Senior children, Jim is a partner and executive writer for Carrow Consulting LLC in Philadelphia, a business development consulting firm.
“I would hope that as I go forward, I will be able to apply the lessons learned in the corporate world and in the business world to be helpful to the Church and to the people of Church,” he said of his decision to enter the permanent diaconate.
Jim graduated from St. Joseph School in Ambler and from Wissahickon Senior High School. He earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Temple University and a master’s degree in English from Villanova University.
In the early 1970s he taught English at Bishop Kenrick High School in Norristown and was a lecturer in English at Villanova University.
He served more than 30 years in the computer industry for Sperry Corp. and Unisys in various capacities, including marketing, international industrial films and as a chief corporate speech writer.
He has also worked in the radio, newspaper, magazine, advertising and public relations industries and has provided commercial voiceovers and podcasts for companies.
For leisure, Jim has acted in comedies and dramas at the Montgomery Theater in Souderton.
Jim Senior’s family also includes wife Ann Marie; two grown daughters, Katherine Senior Urbanski and Jacyln Senior; and a son, Garrett, a senior at Chestnut Hill College.
At St. Rose of Lima Parish, Jim is a lector and extraordinary minister of holy Communion, a former member of the parish pastoral council and a former president of the home and school association.
These days, Jim and Myra can be found basking in the fact that their baby brother is now a Bishop.
“He’s so like Jesus Christ – he reaches all,” Myra said.
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