Bishop Jane Via (pronouns: she/her) has a B.A. in Spanish Language and Literature from Purdue University, a Ph.D. in Religious Studies from Marquette University, and a J.D. from the University of San Diego. After several years of teaching Religious Studies at a Catholic college and university, she served as an attorney at County Counsel in San Diego, CA and a county attorney with the District Attorney's office in San Diego for a combined 26 years. 

Jane recognized her call to become an ordained Roman Catholic priest when she learned of the Roman Catholic Womenpriest (RCWP) movement in Europe. She felt compelled to use her theological knowledge, her teaching and public speaking skills, and her love of the church to call the church to change, rather than leave the church. Gandhi once said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” Jane is trying to be the change she wants to see in the church.

In 2005, Jane founded MMACC with Rod Stephens, a Roman Catholic priest. Jane was ordained a deacon in 2004 on the Danube River and was ordained a priest in June of 2006 on the Bodensee off Swiss shores. Jane is a member of the Immaculate Heart Community of Los Angeles. She lives in San Diego with her husband, Phil Faker. They have two adult sons.