James Torquato

The Reverend James Torquato is a member of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh and has served as the Pastor of St. Basil Catholic Parish since 2004. In this capacity, Rev. James Torquato acts as a spiritual resource for more than 3,800 parishioners and supervises the staff, finances, properties, and operations of the parish. Rev. James Torquato promotes the teachings of the Catholic Church on a daily basis, providing ministry and leadership to the Catholic members of the Pittsburgh community. To supplement his work at his parish, Rev. James Torquato has also functioned as a member of the Diocesan Theological Committee since 1990. Additionally, Rev. James Torquato acts as Confessor to the Franciscan Sisters of Whitehall, Pennsylvania, a position he has held for nearly a decade.

Before becoming the Pastor of St. Basil Catholic Parish, Rev. James Torquato held a number of ministry positions across Pennsylvania. In 1998, Rev. James Torquato was appointed Parochial Vicar at St. Bernard Church in Mount Lebanon, Pennsylvania. Three years prior, Rev. James Torquato simultaneously served as a Parochial Vicar at St. Bonaventure Parish in Shaler, Pennsylvania, and as the Chaplain and President of North Catholic High School. In 1992, Rev. James Torquato began work as the Personal Secretary to Bishop Donald Wuerl, who had ordained him a Catholic Priest three years earlier. In his first role as a priest, Rev. James Torquato served for two years as a Parochial Vicar at the Church of the Assumption in Bellevue, Pennsylvania.

Rev. James Torquato received his theological training at The Pontifical North American College in Vatican City, where he earned a Bachelor of Sacred Theology. After completing his degree, Rev. James Torquato studied at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, where he received a Licentiate of Sacred Theology. Before pursuing his studies in Italy, Rev. James Torquato attended Duquesne University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Philosophy.