When Deacon James R. Joseph first considered entering the Catholic Church, “I knew it was going to be a big jump,” he said. But with a loving, supportive family and a penchant to seek the truth, he made the jump into Catholicism. Then he discerned the priesthood.
Deacon Joseph was born Jan. 13, 1992, in Allentown, Pa., to Jim and Debbie Joseph. Growing up, he said, “We grew up going to church almost every Sunday, so we were a pretty faithful Presbyterian family.” But it wasn’t until he entered college at William & Mary in Williamsburg that he felt called to take a deeper spiritual dive.
“I found out that the theological disagreements I had with the Presbyterian Church meant that I had to go somewhere else. So, I entered college looking for another church to join,” he said.
He explored various denominations and churches in Williamsburg but did not feel content until he began studying Catholicism. “I talked to the priests there and a lot of people in the Catholic Campus Ministry, and I got more and more interested in the faith.”
Ever the intellectual, he studied the teachings of the church fathers and the writings of Catholic author G. K. Chesterton. “I kind of read my way into the faith,” he said.
Moved by his experiences, he entered the church in 2013. From there, he went on to earn a master’s in church history at the University of Dayton in Ohio. “I did two years studying the liturgy of medieval England; it’s sort of a niche subject, but it was something that I was fascinated with,” he said.
His love for church academia only led him further toward the priesthood. “When I entered the church, I found myself fascinated with all things about the priesthood — the liturgy, the Mass, particularly. I spent some more time studying, looking into it,” he said.
After graduating in 2015, he moved to the Arlington diocese and took up a teaching position at the Holy Family Academy in Manassas. Two years later, he taught at Our Lady of Hope Catholic School in Potomac Falls. “I hadn’t been in the diocese very long, but I loved the Diocese of Arlington,” he said.
At Our Lady of Hope, he fully embraced his call to the priesthood, “figuring out that I needed to try the seminary, or I would never get rid of the desire to see if this is what I’m called to.”
He entered the seminary in the fall of 2018. “The seminary is very good with rounding you out, finding where you have blind spots,” he said. Learning new pastoral skills — from approaching new people, to evangelizing, to ministering to those with mental health challenges or trauma — has been the most helpful, he said. “Being more sensitive is one of the things that the seminary has given me.”
After studying away from the diocese for six years, Deacon Joseph said he’s looking forward to moving back to Arlington and giving blessings as a priest.
“Blessing rosaries, blessing water is fascinating to me, and I’m excited to do that as a priest,” he said. “It’s always fascinating to me that the power of God (is) working on something right in front of us, something real and physical right in front of you.”
Ahead of ordination, Deacon Joseph said he will be meditating on the great blessing that lies in front of him. Despite the busyness that lies ahead, “It’s good to get your mind out of that and just focus on what it is you’re doing, and what you’re doing for the rest of your life.”
