James Gerard Tracey was born in 1961. After leaving school he was employed at John McGavigan and Company Ltd, Kirkintilloch, working initially in sales then in the Production Cost Planning department. He left the company in 1980 to begin his studies for the priesthood at St Andrew’s College, Drygrange. After his Philosophy studies he took two years out, working in his home parish, with the Little Way Association in London and returning to McGavigan’s for a time. He resumed his studies at Drygrange in 1984, moving to Gillis College, Edinburgh, in 1986. He was ordained as Deacon on 29th March 1987 and as Priest on 2nd February 1988 – both celebrations taking place in his home parish of St Machan’s, Lennoxtown. After ordination he returned to Our Lady of Loreto, Musselburgh, where he had served as Deacon. In September 1988 he was appointed to Holy Cross, Edinburgh, as Assistant Priest to Bishop James Monaghan, while also serving as Secretary to Archbishop O’Brien. He remained in Holy Cross until 1991 (his Radio 2 years: 88-91!) when he was appointed as Assistant Priest at St Mary’s Cathedral, Edinburgh. In 1993 he was appointed as Parish Priest of Our Lady of Lourdes, Dunfermline and became Archdiocesan Vocations Director. He remained in these posts until 1998, when he was appointed as Vicar Episcopal of Education in January and Parish Priest of Holy Cross, Edinburgh in April. In 2004 he was also appointed as Parish Priest of St Margaret Mary’s, Edinburgh, in addition to his other responsibilities. In February 2006 he was appointed as Parish Priest of St Patrick’s, Kilsyth and Administrator of St Paul’s, Milton of Campsie and St Dominic’s, Torrance, becoming Parish Priest of St Paul’s and St Dominic’s in September 2006. This ended in September 2008 when Fr Kevin Murray was appointed parish priest of St Paul’s and St Dominic’s leaving Fr Tracey as parish priest of St Patrick's.