Jamestown priest dies of COVID-19 complications

A longtime priest in the Diocese of Fargo has died of complications from COVID-19.

The Diocese of Fargo announced Wednesday that the Pastor of the St. James Basilica in Jamestown, along with churches in Buchanan and Windsor, Monsignor Jeffrey Wald died in a Jamestown hospital due to complications of the COVID-19 virus. Wald was 56 years old.

Monsignor Wald was born in 1963 and currently served in the Diocese of Fargo as a priest, a Diocese in which he was ordained in 1992. In addition to serving in Jamestown, Buchanan and Windsor, Wald served at parishes in Grand Forks, Fingal, Oriska, Crary, Devils Lake, Starkweather and Fargo, in addition to Cardinal Muench Seminary of Fargo.

"Monsignor Wald was a kind shepherd and a gifted speaker, a champion for Catholic education, and will be sorely missed by me, his brother priests, his parishoners and the faithful of the diocese who knew and loved him," Bishop John Folda said. "My prayers go out to his family, friends and parishoners at this tragic loss."

The Diocese of Fargo says funeral arrangements are pending.