James funeral arrangements announced

Funeral plans for St. Xavier High School senior Matt James have been made. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at St. Xavier High School, 600 W. North Bend Rd., in Cincinnati. A closing prayer service begins at 8 p.m. "We are united in our grief over Matt," said Fr. Tim Howe S.J., St. X president. "Our community is strong, and I know that the strength we receive from our faith in Jesus’ resurrection will help get us through this difficult time. Our love and prayers are for Matt and his family as we accompany them in the coming days of shared mourning." Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Xavier Church in downtown Cincinnati. The church is located at 607 Sycamore St. Committal prayers and burial will be conducted in private for the family. Memorials may be made to the Mathew James Scholarship Fund, care of St. Xavier High School, 600 W. North Bend Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45224. The James family has requested no media attend the visitation or the Mass of Christian Burial. "While we appreciate the interest in our son - and we are grateful for the support and love we have gotten from all corners locally and across the country – we are still a family dealing with extreme loss and grief," said Jerry James, Matt’s father. "We hope we can put Matt to rest without the distraction of cameras and microphones as we mourn."