Call to Discipleship: Interview with Fr. Roy Joseph

In Mark 16:15 Jesus says to his disciples, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”

Starting with the disciples, priests have spread the word of God throughout time. One of those priests is Fr. Roy Joseph, S.J. Recently, he was assigned full time here at Jesuit Dallas. Ordained in 2016, Fr. Roy Joseph previously served at the Montserrat Retreat House in Lake Dallas. 

Childhood and Family

Fr. Joseph grew up in “the home of the best baseball team ever”: Atlanta, Georgia. His parents immigrated from India and his parent were very devout. Fr. Joseph states that his grandma along with his parent’s promotion of a “Catholic culture” helped him to the priesthood. He also says that the birth of his younger brother in high school transformed him and helped him consider the priesthood.

Jesuit Formation & Journey to Jesuit Dallas

Fr. Joseph began his Novitiate in Grand Coteau, Louisiana. There, he had his first introduction to Jesuit community. During this time, he did many service projects. One of those included work at the border in McAllen, Texas. He also volunteered and a disabled community called L’Arche of Mobile in Alabama. After Alabama, he did a short stint teaching at Strake Jesuit in Houston. There he taught sciences. After Strake, he went to Loyola university of Chicago for philosophy studies, also doing Religious Education there for three years. He went back to Strake Jesuit for another three years. He finished his last three years of formation at Boston College teaching theology. In 2016, he was ordained a Jesuit at Francis Xavier College Church at Saint Louis University.

Following his ordination, he was assigned to a Jesuit parish in Denver, Colorado for three years. After Denver, he moved to Dallas working at the Montserrat Retreat House. Last year, he did his tertianship, jokingly called “Jesuit finishing school,” in Portland, Oregon. During this time, he did his second and final 30-day silent retreat. He also did an “experiment” working at Red Cloud High School in South Dakota.

The Jesuit Experience

When asked on his experience so far at Jesuit,

Fr. Joseph said that he “been touched by the warm welcome.”

He enjoys the warm welcome from the administration on down. Fr. Joseph talked about seeing “a different side” to the school now that he teaches. He says that he now sees the mission of the Jesuits to form men “the holistic way,” known as cura personalis. 

Currently, Fr. Joseph teaches three sophomore classes. He says that unless he’s teaching, his door is open for anyone who wants to receive confession or just talk. His office is located in the Theology Commons in Office A. Be sure to stop by the Theology Commons and give Fr. Joseph a warm welcome!

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