Fr. Tim’s Story

Fr. Tim's Story

Reverend Timothy S.A. Wiggins was born in Valhalla and raised and educated in Port Chester (Westchester County), New York. From his childhood to his early teens, Fr. Wiggins was an active member of St. Frances African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church where his maternal grandmother, Beatrice Ellen Johns, took on the responsibility of rearing him in the church. Because of his faithful service and sincere dedication, these two qualities placed his name on the Pastor's desk to be considered a Church Steward.

Fr. Wiggins' zeal diminished as a Methodist and two years later he converted to Catholicism. In 1980, he was received into the Roman Catholic Church at Our Lady of Mercy and involved himself in the life of the Parish.

Fr. Wiggins' love for the liturgy, particularly sacred music, led him to remain in the Parish choir singing God's praises for nearly 35 years. Being raised in a multigenerational and blue-collar Community known as a "melting pot" and sandwiched between two wealthy communities, Fr. Wiggins learned to embrace, appreciate and respect all races, cultures and religions. He graduated from Port Chester High School in 1982. Fr. Tim's passion was cooking. He was accepted into the Culinary Institute of American a year later. Fr. Tim wished not to wait so he decided to attend Johnson & Wales. He later transferred to Denver University and received a Bachelor of Science in Hotel/Restaurant Management. He then worked as an assistant director of nutritional services for major corporations, including the Marriott Corporation and St. Joseph's Medical Center in Yonkers. While working full time, he also put in five years as rectory cook at Our Lady of Mercy in Port Chester; he loved the job and the chance to get to know the priests. It was here that Fr. Tim found his vocation--not to nourish bodies, but to nourish souls.

Even though he had a robust professional career, his heart was in the Church. In his own words, "I saw the need to give, the need to help more people, to be of service. I was already in the service industry, and I wanted to take it to a higher level." He applied to the St. John Neumann Seminary Residence but delayed his admissions out of concern for his grandmother. He spent two years at St. John Neumann Seminary Residence. While studying at St. Joseph's Seminary, he taught in the religious education programs at St. Philip Neri in the Bronx and Immaculate Conception in Irvington and visited patients at Our Lady of Mercy Medical Center in the Bronx and Rosary Hill Home in Hawthorne. He served summer assignments at St. Charles Borromeo in Harlem. He holds B.A. in Sacred Theology from St. Joseph Seminary. Fr. Wiggins was ordained on May 18, 2002, at St. Patrick's Cathedral by Archbishop Edward Michael Egan. He was first assigned as associate pastor at St. Peter's Church in Monticello, NY from 2002-2003. He spent 10 years as an associate pastor at St. John the Evangelist in White Plains until 2013. Fr. Tim was administrator of Our Lady of Mercy for two years. He was assigned as chaplain at Archbishop Stepinac High School in White Plains from 2014 to 2020 and taught Freshman and Junior Religious Studies. He was temporary administrator of Our Lady of Sorrows in White Plains from 2020-2021. His first pastorate was at St. Charles Borromeo, Resurrection, and All Saints Parish.

Whether you call him "Fr. Tim" or "Fr. Wiggins," he is a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek (Tu es Sacerdos in aeternum), to love and serve God's People, while being guided by his mother's motto when trials, tribulations and temptations arise: "grace and mercy."

In every pastoral assignment, Fr. Wiggins befriended parishioners and they befriended him, earning the titles "Parish Priest" and "Family Priest." He is also blessed by his biological family: brothers: Karl L. Wiggins and Jonathan L. Wiggins, Jr., three nephews: Jonathan L. Wiggins Jr., Esq (Danielle), Timothy A. Wiggins, and Nathaniel Harnett, PhD., niece Faith, and grandniece, Lenox Cecelia Wiggins.