GOD BLESS OUR PRIESTS | Tony C. Diaz
The Pacific Voice Staff

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Name: Father Joseph English, O.F.M. Cap.

Position/parish: Vice-Provincial of Vice-Province of the Star of the Sea for Guam and Hawaii Capuchins; Pastor, Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, Agana Hts.

Birthdate: April 14, 1960

Place of birth: Agana Heights, Guam

Ordained: April 28, 1990 at Agana Cathedral-Basilica

Favorite saint: St. Francis, St. Therese of Lisieux

Pastimes: Playing the guitar, composing music, spending time with family and friends, golfing

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Father Joe English, OFM Cap. was just 10 years old when he first began active, daily service in the Catholic Church.

Forty years later, his focus is still the same: Serve Christ, serve the people of God.

As Pastor of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church in Agana Heights and the elected Vice Provincial of the Capuchin Franciscan friars on Guam and Hawaii, Father Joe is a busy person.

But then, that’s the path his sandals has been walking since he was a boy.

Now 50 years old, Father Joe’s love and service to the Lord began to take root during his boyhood days in Sinajana when, as an altar boy, he would be at St. Jude Church every day helping in a wide variety of ways.

“My Mom encouraged me to be a server of the altar at the age of 10 and that’s when it all started,” said Father Joe.

“I was at church almost every day helping to clean, set up or serve for the daily Masses.”

“The different priests who were pastors at St. Jude saw that I was dependable so they always gave me responsibilities that they didn’t give to just anyone,” recalled Father Joe.

As he grew older, the priests saw that he remained very dedicated and conscientious, so they began entrusting him with more important duties.

“I was trusted serving for special events, securing the church, taking care of the rectory when Father was away at a meeting or keeping the collection money secure until it was counted and banked,” recalled Father Joe.

“With my responsibilities increasing, the church became like my second home.”

In fact, the Catholic Church HAS been home for Father Joe practically his entire life.

When Father Joe was a junior at Father Duenas Memorial School, Father James Gavin,  then Pastor of St. Jude, asked him two important questions. Those two questions helped change his life.

First, Father Gavin asked young Joe English if he wanted to work at the St. Fidelis Friary after school. After getting his parents’ permission, Joe agreed.

The second question required more time…and prayer.

Father Gavin asked, “Have you ever thought about becoming a priest?”

“I didn’t answer him because I never really seriously thought about it,” said Father Joe. “As servers, we never discussed it because we thought we weren’t even worthy to become priests.  My first reaction was, ‘Who me?  Are you serious?’ ”

Surrounded and inspired by many holy men at the Friary,  Joe English began discerning his calling in life.

“My years working at the Friary made me realize that God could call anyone to be a priest…even me. So when I was asked whether I was interested in joining the Capuchins, I said ‘YES!’ ”

“I took one and a half years off from my seminary studies BUT after that I have never looked back,” said Father Joe. “I have been a Capuchin for 27 years and a priest for 20 years.”

Three well-known Capuchins particularly inspired him: Father Gavin, Father Canice Cartmell,  and Fr. Kieran Hickey.

He has two favorite saints who also help him model the life of Christ.

“Of course, St. Francis, who continues to inspire my life as a Capuchin to live the Gospel wholeheartedly.  Also, St. Therese of Lisieux, who taught me that even the little things that we do for God and others are important, too.”

There are many things that give Father Joe a sense of joy and fulfillment as a priest:  “Seeing children and young people grow up and become active members of the Church. Seeing people who have left the Church come back after many years being away. Seeing parents baptize their children and then bringing them to church every Sunday.”

Experiencing the compassion and forgiveness of Christ come alive in somebody through the Sacrament of Reconciliation is also very rewarding, said Father Joe. Especially when someone receives the Sacrament of Reconciliation after being away from it the past 20 years or more.

At Agana Heights, Father leads parishioners who genuinely love their church and are active in making it come alive.

“They are concerned about the life of the parish,” he said. “They like to see it flourish and grow spiritually.  They want the different parish ministries to be active and alive.  They want parishioners to be involved.  They like well planned liturgies and they are great for participating in the prayers and in the singing.  They are proud of their Church and Parish.”

Father Joe enjoys reading books. Known as a good homilist, he often weaves in his homilies simple stories that convey the teachings of Christ.

“I like books that give stories or illustrations because I use them when I preach,” he said. “These stories or illustrations can be used to capture the attention of your audience and also introduce the passage in the Bible that you are trying to explain or highlight.  If they can remember the story or illustration, they will remember the Scripture passage and how it relates to their lives.”

Previously serving as pastor of Santa Teresita for 10 memorable years in 1993-2003, the product of Bishop Baumgartner Memorial School and 1978 Father Duenas graduate also served as Pastor at St. Francis Church in Yona 2003-2009 before being assigned to Agana Heights.

GOD BLESS FR. JOE ENGLISH! GOD BLESS OUR PRIESTS!