Felt Like I Was Home | Deacon Joseph Gonzalez

Deacon Joseph Gonzalez is in his final year of formation for the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., at Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary. In this episode, he talks with Msgr. Bill Fay about signposts that led him to answer God’s invitation to serve Him as a priest. Hear about his life as a United States Marine and the ways in which God was always weaving His way in and out of Joe’s life. Attending Mass one day, Joe recognized that “it felt like I was home.” A planted seed took hold later when a co-worker invited Joe to be a deacon. Then, during Adoration at a youth vocation retreat, Joe understood that God was asking him, “why not you?” Find out more from Joe about the challenges and rewards he has experienced while navigating seminary life.

Before being accepted into seminary, Joseph was employed as a software test engineer for 18 years. For 10 of those years, he served the youth at his home parish and was involved in a youth ministry that serves the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. called “Tira La Red” (Cast the Net).

Deacon Joseph Gonzalez is scheduled to be ordained to the priesthood in spring of 2024.