St. Joseph the Worker

Dear Parishioners of St. Joseph the Worker:

Forty years ago this Sunday, May 28^th, 1983, I found myself at 524 East Lawrence Avenue in Springfield.  The reason?  To be ordained a priest for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois.  I, along with four other classmates, were ordained priests by Bishop Victor Balke, a native of our diocese who was then Bishop of Crookston, MI.  Bishop McNicholas from our diocese had died five weeks prior to our ordination date, so there was no bishop here to preside at the Mass.

I will never forget my parents being in the front row, smiling and so proud.  I remember the Cathedral being completely filled.  It was such a holy and moving ceremony.  It was the beginning of forty wonderful years of priestly ministry.

I was assigned to St. Aloysius parish in Springfield with Fr. Franzen for my first assignment, as well as teaching at then Ursuline Academy on the north side.  After three years, I was assigned to then St. Mary’s parish in Quincy, with a teaching assignment at Quincy Notre Dame High School.  In January of 1988, I was assigned to St. Thomas parish in Newton, IL, where I stayed for the next 14 years, with 12 years as Sacramental Minister for the parish in Ste. Marie.  Then, in June of 2002, I was made pastor of Holy Family parish in Decatur, where I stayed for 19 years, with 12 years as Sacramental Minister of the parish in Mt. Zion.  I was Dean of the then Decatur Deanery for seven years.  And in July of 2021, you know what happened—I came to Chatham!

At each parish and in each assignment, the Lord was leading me and molding me, especially through the Sacraments and my interactions with God’s People.  And no more is that evident than in my almost two years at SJW.  As I celebrate my 40^th Anniversary of Priestly Ordination, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else then right here among you.

YOU have touched my life in countless ways in such a short time.  YOU have enabled me to see the Lord Jesus’ compassion, love, outreach, joy, and peace.  YOU have deepened my faith in Christ.  YOU have nurtured my priesthood.  YOU have been a true faith community for this diocesan priest of 40 years.  And for that, plus all the rest, I say THANK YOU!

Your “40 year old” Pastor,

Father Joe

P.S.  And, we wish our Pastor Emeritus, Fr.. John Nolan, a blessed Ordination anniversary on May 28^th.  This will be his 46^th.  Know of our prayers, Fr. John, and thank you for your priestly ministry to SJW and our diocese.