Father Joe Carroll is a Catholic priest from America. Read further for detailed information about Father Joe Carroll Biography.
Father Joe Carroll Biography
Father Joe Carroll was born on April 12, 1941, in the Bronx. He died July 11, 2021, due to health complications. When he was alive, he was the Joe’s Village Founder, a charity organization set up to cater to homeless people.
During his childhood days, he grew up with his parents and siblings in the Bronx. He was the fourth child of the eight children his parent had. The family survived on farm labor and menial jobs to make ends meet.
They lived very close to a catholic church – St. Joseph catholic church. He was a regular member and a passionate altar boy of the church and developed a passion for God.
However, he moved to southern California in 1963 for admission into seminary school. Subsequently, he was ordained as a catholic priest after finishing school. He served diligently in the parish he was transferred to for eight years. His tenacity for the work of God and mankind was evident during his lifetime.
| Father Joe Carroll Biography | |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Father Joe Carroll |
| Age | 80 |
| Date of Birth | April 12, 1941 |
| Died On | 11 July 2021 |
| Memoir | Father Joe: Life Stories of a Hustler Priest |
| Sickness | Diabetes |
| Nickname | Hustler Priest |
| Personality | Zealous with Fundraising |
| Charity | Joe Village |
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Career
Father Carroll began his journey as a worker in a butcher shop in his neighborhood at the tender age of eight years old. Thereafter, he sold Christmas trees and sometimes do menial jobs to help his family financially. In addition, he was an active member of the Boy Scouts during his childhood era.
As mentioned earlier, he moved to the southern part of California as a young adult. He was admitted into St. John’s Seminary School in Camarillo to become a priest.
Unfortunately, his time there was short-lived as he was expelled from school on the account of running the school’s bookstore against the school’s code of conduct. Thereafter, in 1974, he proceeded to the University of San Diego to complete his education. While at the University of San Diego, he attended a seminary school in Washington D.C to complement lost times.
Carroll was ordained as a priest and then appointed as the priest of the St. Rita parish church in Valencia Park. After several years, Father Carroll was presented with choices by Bishop Leo Maher which involved being transferred to St. Vincent de Paul Parish Church as a replacement for the former priest or moving to a parish church in Needles, California.
Joe chose the former, he spearheaded the affairs of St Vincent de Paul parish for 29 years from 1982 to 2011. He left the helm of affairs of running the parish in 2013. However, until his death, he was very much active in the progress of his legacy and the parish’s progress.
Joe Village
Father Joe Carroll was an exemplary, compassionate, and visionary leader. While at St. Vincent de Paul Parish Church, he had a vision of building a shelter for the homeless in the environs and beyond.
Hence, the vision, of a homeless shelter – Father Joe’s Village initially called St. Vincent de Paul Village was birthed. The parking lot of the parish was the starting point for the creation of the shelter.
The shelter is a non–profit organization which is located at Imperial Ave, San Diego, United States. Every successful establishment has its own share of problems. Father Joe encountered his own at the early stages, initially, his vision was not welcomed by all.
He faced difficulties when he wanted to expand the shelter as many property owners frowned at the development, he was also criticized by other shelter owners. Nevertheless, his project was successful and beneficial for the public.
The shelter provides housing, meals, medical care, education, vocation training, and many more to thousands of people regularly. The organization has over 500 workers including volunteers and runs a budget of $40 million. Unarguably, they are one of the largest shelters in San Diego, California.
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Personality
Father Joe was given the nickname “Hustler Priest” as he was very zealous when it comes to fundraising. He charged everyone with the responsibility of looking out for the homeless and the needy.
Joe went as far as appearing in TV commercials to seek donations. He was in everyone’s faces and ready to collect for the needy and homeless. “He can squeeze money out of a rock” Monsignor Dennis Mikulanis, his bosom friend, once said.
However, his selfless acts were not free from criticism, Wall Street Journal criticized him and tagged the shelter as “Father Joe’s Country Club”.
Furthermore, he was friendly and always full of smiles everywhere he goes. He loves telling stories, reading, and attending baseball games. To add to this, he was very humble, he rejected the idea of renaming the shelter in his name. Also, he refused to be addressed as Monsignor, a title for a senior Roman Catholic Priest
Awards
Father Joe was a celebrity during his lifetime and was greatly celebrated for his works and achievements. He was honored with an honorary degree, Doctor of Humane Letters degree by San Diego State University.
Also, he received the award of World Habitat Award in 1988 for creating an enabling environment for the homeless. In addition, he was honored on the occasion with the National Medal of Honour in Washington D.C
Sickness and Death
Father Joe was diagnosed with diabetes which became severe costing him his two legs in 2017. His condition reduced him to walking with the aid of a wheelchair. Unfortunately, his condition deteriorated and his right eye cease to function properly.
He died at the age of 80 in the early hours of July 11 following health complications. Family, friends, and individuals paid tributes to the life he lived while he was alive. A private burial mass was organized with his loved ones, close friends, and family in attendance.
Similarly, a memorial service was held in his honor at St. Rita’s Catholic Church in San Diego.
Before his last days, he sold 690 of his 700 Naviety Collection sets to pay off his debt. This collection is a prized possession of his as he started collecting them in 1974 when he was ordained as a priest. He also wrote a memoir on his life titled Father Joe: Life Stories of a Hustler Priest.
Summary of Father Joe Carroll Biography, Personality, Sickness and Death
Father Joe was born on the 12th of April, 1942. He went to seminary school and was ordained priest after completion. Joe is dubbed as “Hustler Priest” because of many characteristics, the main one being his Zealousness in fundraising.
Carroll has a Charity that is named Joe Village. Unfortunately, Joe had diabetes and died on the 11th of July, 2021.
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