Father James Smith, who served as pastor of Transfiguration in Oakdale from 1994 to 2002, “has been granted a dispensation from the obligations of the clerical state,” commonly called “laicization,” Archbishop Bernard Hebda announced April 30.

Smith was ordained May 30, 1987, and served as parochial vicar of St. Mark and as a spiritual director at St. John Vianney College Seminary, both in St. Paul, before his appointment to Transfiguration. He has not been in public ministry in the archdiocese since 2006.

“I would be grateful if you would remember Jim in your prayers,” Archbishop Hebda said in the statement.