James Michael Reardon

James Michael Reardon (August 31, 1872 December 12, 1963) was a Canadian-American Catholic priest and professor of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul. A prominent churchman in the first half of the 20th century, he was rector of the Basilica of Saint Mary from 1921 until his death and wrote the definitive history of the diocese.

Early life James Michael Reardon was born on August 31, 1872, in Charlottetown, Colony of Prince Edward Island. Reardon initially resisted the appointment, stating that he had no training in journalism, but created a paid subscribership of 25,000 by the end of his editorship in 1922. Reardon also served as the president of the Catholic Total Abstinence Society. He was pastor of St. Mary's in Saint Paul from 1916 to 1921. As rector, he carried out the completion of the interior of the as-of-yet unfinished pro-cathedral. On Christmas Day, 1925, Pope Pius XI elevated the church to the status minor basilica, the first in the United States; thereafter, it became known as the Basilica of Saint Mary. Reardon held the job as rector for the rest of his life, a tenure of 42 years.

Reardon served as chairman of the executive and general committees of the Ninth National Eucharistic Congress. The congress was held in the Twin Cities from June 23 to 26, 1941, at various locations throughout the Twin Cities, including the state fairgrounds, Saint Paul Union Depot, the Minneapolis Auditorium, the St. Paul Auditorium, the Cathedral of Saint Paul and the Basilica of Saint Mary. After the congress, in recognition for his work in the diocese, he was granted the title of protonotary apostolic. Entitled The Catholic Church in the Diocese of Saint Paul, it sold some 13,000 copies.

Death and funeral On December 12, 1963, Reardon went to the basilica for his usual afternoon rosary. He was the last surviving priest to have been ordained by Archbishop John Ireland.