Fr. John’s Biography

Fr. John Wykes, OMV is a Roman Catholic religious and priest with the Oblates of the Virgin Mary (OMV).  He is also an award-winning independent documentary filmmaker and videographer.  His work includes forty-one years behind the camera (1983-2024) – thirty of those years (1993-2023) filming for the OMVs.

Fr. John first saw a film projector when he was seven years old and fell in love with the movies at that time.  As a teenager, he dabbled in moviemaking with a few silly Super-8 films (using cement and tape splices to edit), then moved onto 16mm and then various video formats, including everything from VHS to 4K.

Born and raised in a loving family, John Wykes grew up in Detroit, Michigan, USA.  After years of Catholic education, John earned his BA at Wayne State University, majoring in Journalism and minoring in Film.  What followed was a series of various media-related jobs, including writing for a suburban newspaper (and interviews with personalities such as LeVar Burton and Christopher Cross).  He also worked at the Catholic Television Network of Detroit – doing camera in the studio, editing, and coordinating programming in TV Control.

In 1989, John heard a call from the Lord, packed his bags for Boston, and entered the Oblates of the Virgin Mary.  Seven years of studies and formation followed, culminating in degrees in Philosophy and Theology. He took final vows in 1997 and was ordained a priest the next year.  Later on, his Congregation sent him to get his third master’s degree – this one in Digital Media from Northeastern University.

Over the last few decades, Fr. John has done campus ministry, hospital chaplaincy, parish work, many years at Saint Francis Chapel in Boston’s Prudential Center, and formation ministry.  His media experience has included filmmaking (mostly documentaries and promotional videos), event videography, desktop publishing, website content management, audio production, and teaching film production and theory to people of all ages.

As a media specialist for the OMVs U.S. Province, Fr. John started with just about nothing (clamp lamps from a local hardware store and an old VHS camera found in a closet), building up the media apostolate gradually over time (in collaboration with other OMVs and lay people) to include digital technology, non-linear editing, HD, DVDs and Blu-rays, the introduction of streaming, and the use of social media.  He also did both video and audio production for Crossroad Publications.

In 2018, Fr. John was asked to serve as Director of Communications for the OMVs at the General House in Rome.  In addition to five years of full-time filmmaking and videography in Italy and France and redesigning the OMV international websites, his work also included ministry at the Pontifical Scots College, teaching multimedia production at the Pontifical Gregorian University, and, on one occasion, providing English-language commentary for Vatican Radio. His travels over the years have afforded him the opportunity to make films and videos in several countries – in the Americas, Europe, and Asia.

In 2023, Fr. John returned to the USA.  He concluded his years of active filmmaking in 2024.  He is happy to hand things off to new generations of media specialists and focus his energies on religious life and priestly ministry.

Fr. John still writes and talks extensively about media, filmmaking, and movies.  His favorite filmmakers from the past include Charles Chaplin, Andrei Tarkovsky, and Akira Kurosawa.  Twenty-first Century filmmakers who have caught his attention include Abbas Kiarostami, Hayao Miyazaki, and Denis Villeneuve.  His favorite cinematographer is Roger Deakins.

Fr. John now lives and works at St. Mary’s Parish in Alton, IL and still likes taking walks and visiting museums.  He also embellishes his senior years with Tai Chi, weightlifting, cardio, and occasional push up challenges with friends.