DR. JAMES R. HELTON
 
PASTORAL ASSOCIATE FOR PASTORAL CARE
 
 
Our Pastor, Fr. John Forbes, has appointed a long-time friend and colleague, Dr. Jim Helton, as our new Pastoral Associate and Chaplain. As such, Fr. Forbes will call upon Dr. Helton’s extensive ministerial experience to assist him in providing pastoral care for the people of Sacred Heart. Dr. Helton comes with considerable experience in pastoral care and counseling as a retired USAF chaplain and a clinical psychologist and public health doctor.
 
Dr. Helton served for 25 years and at the end of his military career he was Deputy Command Chaplain and Director of Combat Training for Chaplains and Deputy to the Command Surgeon for training for Joint Forces Command (JFCOM). He has had multiple combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and served as the Coalition Medical Officer for the Southern Provinces of Afghanistan.
 
Dr. Helton most recently served as the developer and coordinator of On-going Formation for Priests for the Diocese of Charleston, where he taught Basic Counseling Skills for Priests, Parish Administration, Care of the Elderly and Chronically Ill, and End-Of-Life Ministry. He is an adjunct faculty member and mentor for the Womack Army Hospital Third Year Residents’ Family Practice program.
 
Jim holds degrees from Johns Hopkins University, Yale Divinity School, Yale School of Public Health, Graduate School of Theology, and diplomas from Oxford University (Theology) and Harvard Medical School (Psychoneuroimmunology). Though a Pastoral Associate may not celebrate Mass, pronounce forgiveness, or anoint the sick, there is still much pastoral care to be done. He will assist Fr. Forbes in hospital ministry, ministry to military families, counseling, bereavement, ministering to the terminally ill, and other areas as needed.
 
Having both a ministerial and medical background has enabled Dr. Helton to focus his attention on helping those in high stress environments, or suffering from a chronic illness or disease, or one in need of end-of-life care and those providing such care, or those who are bereaving, depressed, or believe they have PTSD or have suffered a moral injury. His background, experience, and training all undergird his belief in the influence that the mind, body, and spirit all have on each other. He sees his ministry in pastoral care as one in which our Lord calls him to help you live a better life.
 
Dr. Helton and his wife of 50 years, Eileen, live in Southern Pines. They have a daughter, Shannon, a fifth grade teacher in Apex, NC.

Dr. Helton's Duties and Responsibilities

How to Make an Appointment with Dr. Helton