Br. James was born and raised in the mid-Hudson Valley of New York. In 2011, he graduated from Siena College with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. In 2012, he received his Masters in Public Policy from George Mason University, and in 2021, he earned a Master of Divinity at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.

Br. James professed his final vows with the Order of Friars Minor in 2022 and works at the St. Francis Inn in Philadelphia, which serves guests experiencing poverty. His work at FAN focuses on advocacy related to addressing poverty and homelessness.