Naveed
Before late-night TV, a young Jimmy Fallon seriously considered the priesthood. Today, he still calls himself Catholic — but hasn’t regularly attended Mass in years.
| Full name | James Thomas Fallon |
| Raised | Irish Catholic, Saugerties, New York |
| Schooling | St. Mary of the Snow Catholic school |
| Childhood ambition | Wanted to become a priest |
An Irish Catholic Childhood He Loved
Fallon grew up in a strict Irish Catholic household and attended St. Mary of the Snow, a Roman Catholic school. By his own account, he loved nearly every part of it — the school, the nuns, weekly Mass, and receiving communion, according to interviews compiled by Patheos and Catholic-Link.
Serving as an Altar Boy
Fallon served as an altar boy and has said in interviews that he genuinely wanted to become a priest as a boy, a detail he has repeated across multiple career retrospectives, including a widely cited Patheos piece titled “I Wanted To Be A Priest.”
Why He Drifted Away From Mass
Fallon has said his practice waned during his teenage years, and a difficult experience with the liturgy in the Los Angeles diocese further pushed him away from regular attendance. He still identifies as Catholic but no longer attends Mass regularly, based on his own comments referenced in SanctePater’s coverage of his faith.
FAQ
Does Jimmy Fallon still identify as Catholic?
Yes. He has said he still considers himself Catholic even though he no longer attends Mass regularly.
Did Jimmy Fallon really want to be a priest?
Yes, according to his own interviews, he seriously considered the priesthood as a child growing up in an Irish Catholic family.
