Brian Chandler

St. James Basilica
Jamestown, ND
Wife: Darcy

Brian Chandler was raised in the small town of Oakes, North Dakota where his Mother (Liz) made sure he and his sister received the sacraments and went to Mass weekly and also encouraged him to serve at Mass. Brian married the love of his life, Darcy, in 1989 and graduated from UND in 1991.
 
Upon moving to several towns to gain work experience, they settled into Jamestown, ND and had 3 children. During this time, Brian and his family were practicing their Christian faith outside the Catholic Church.

In 2014, Brian’s Dad (Doran) invited him to make a Cursillo with him in Belcourt. This was the beginning of his journey back to the Catholic Church. In 2016, Brian fully reentered the Church and his wife, Darcy, joined the Church in 2023 through the RCIA (now OCIA) program.
 
Brian’s call to the diaconate started during the ten years of Cursillo and Life in the Spirit retreats, but came to a peak while attending Darcy’s RCIA classes led by Deacon Tom Geffre and his wife, Mary. During this time, Brian very much felt the Lord nudging him to the diaconate. Upon hearing that the Diocese was postponing the start of the next formation group, he took this as a sign that the Lord was giving him and Darcy one more year to discern and prepare. Upon deciding to apply to the Diaconate Formation Program, Brian and Darcy have received numerous affirmations and couldn’t be more excited to serve the Lord and His Church in a greater capacity.