The ordained ministry makes the presence of Christ visible in the community … in a real person, the priest. In the celebration of Mass and the consecration of bread and wine, we experience the unfolding of God’s grace in our lives. It is the priest, the one chosen by God, who makes this possible. “In the service of the ordained minister, it is Christ himself who is present to his Church as Head of his Body, Shepherd of his flock … Teacher of Truth” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1548).
St. Joseph Parish enjoys the great gift of priests who help each person and every family “respond to the call to holiness and fulfill their vocation to transform the world in the spirit of the Gospel … encouraging them to see the Gospel as the principal force for the renewal of society – the vast and complex world of politics and economics, but also the world of culture, of the sciences and the arts” (Pope John Paul II, Springtime of Evangelization, 76).
The Office of Vocations for the Archdiocese of St. Louis can provide information and guidance for anyone interested in the religious life or the priesthood. You can contact the office at 314-792-6460