{{Short description|American Catholic prelate (born 1974)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox Christian leader | type = | honorific-prefix = His Excellency, The Most Reverend | name = Joseph A. Williams | honorific-suffix = | title = Bishop of Camden | image = | image_size = | caption = | archdiocese = | diocese = Camden | appointed = {{ubl|May 21, 2024 (as coadjutor)}} | enthroned = March 17, 2025 | retired = | predecessor = Dennis Joseph Sullivan | successor = | previous_post = Auxiliary Bishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis & Titular Bishop of Idassa (2022–2024) | other_post = <!---------- Orders ----------> | ordination = May 28, 2002 | ordained_by = Harry Joseph Flynn | consecration = January 25, 2022 | consecrated_by = Bernard Hebda, Richard Pates, Andrew H. Cozzens <!---------- Personal details ---------->| birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1974|05|02}} | birth_place = Minneapolis, Minnesota, US | death_date = | death_place = | buried = | nationality = | alma_mater = | coat_of_arms = | motto = ''Misericordiam volo''<br>(I want mercy) | education = University of Minnesota Morris<br>Franciscan University of Steubenville<br>Saint Paul Seminary }} {{Infobox bishopstyles | name= Joseph Andrew Williams | dipstyle= *His Excellency *The Most Reverend | offstyle=Your Excellency | relstyle=Bishop | image = Coat of arms of Joseph Andrew Williams, Bishop of Camden.svg | image_size = 200px }}
'''Joseph Andrew Williams''' (born May 2, 1974) is an American Catholic prelate who serves as Bishop of Camden. He previously served as an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis from 2022 to 2024 until he became coadjutor bishop of Camden (2024–2025).
== Early life == Williams was born on May 2, 1974, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He has eight siblings; his brother Peter Williams is a priest in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. Joseph Williams attended Saint Croix Catholic School in Stillwater, Minnesota and graduated from Stillwater High School in 1992.<ref name="Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis" />
Williams studied at the University of Minnesota Morris (UMN–Morris), where he was a varsity tennis player and twice competed in the NCAA Division III men's tennis championships. He graduated from UMN–Morris with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1996.<ref name="US Conference of Catholic Bishops" />
Williams continued his studies at the Franciscan University of Steubenville in Steubenville, Ohio. While there, he decided to become a priest. He received a philosophy/pre-theology degree from Franciscan University in 1998. Williams then entered the Saint Paul Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he was awarded a Master of Divinity degree in 2002.<ref name="Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis" />
== Priesthood == Williams was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis by Archbishop Harry Flynn on May 28, 2002, at the Cathedral of Saint Paul in St. Paul, Minnesota.<ref name="www.catholic-hierarchy.org">{{Cite web |title=Bishop Joseph Andrew Williams [Catholic-Hierarchy] |url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bwillja.html |access-date=March 25, 2024 |website=www.catholic-hierarchy.org |archive-date=March 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240307212534/https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bwillja.html |url-status=live }}</ref> After his ordination, the archdiocese assigned Williams as parochial vicar at the Cathedral of Saint Paul Parish, He was transferred in 2004 to Divine Mercy Parish in Faribault, Minnesota.<ref name="US Conference of Catholic Bishops" /> In 2005, Williams was appointed pastor of Saint Mathias Parish in Hampton, Minnesota, and Saint Mary Parish in New Trier, Minnesota. He left both parishes in 2008 to become pastor of Saint Stephen Parish in Minneapolis.
Williams in 2022 stated that during the 2020 George Floyd protests in Minneapolis, he assisted a parishioner whose apartment building was in danger of burning down. Williams personally drove the individual's family to the parish rectory for safety.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Umberger |first1=Barb |title=In 2020, Bishop-elect Williams rescued parishioners from riots |url=https://thecatholicspirit.com/featured/bishop-elect-williams-answered-another-call-parishioner-rescue/ |work=TheCatholicSpirit.com |date=January 21, 2022}}</ref>
== Auxiliary Bishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis == Pope Francis appointed Williams as titular bishop of Idassa and as an auxiliary bishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis on December 10, 2021.<ref name="US Conference of Catholic Bishops">{{cite news |title=Pope Francis Names New Auxiliary Bishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis |url=https://www.usccb.org/news/2021/pope-francis-names-new-auxiliary-bishop-saint-paul-and-minneapolis |accessdate=December 10, 2021 |work=US Conference of Catholic Bishops |archive-date=December 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211210111905/https://www.usccb.org/news/2021/pope-francis-names-new-auxiliary-bishop-saint-paul-and-minneapolis |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis">{{cite news |title=Pope Francis Names Rev. Joseph Williams Auxiliary Bishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis |url=https://www.archspm.org/pope-francis-names-rev-joseph-williams-auxiliary-bishop-of-saint-paul-and-minneapolis/ |accessdate=December 10, 2021 |work=Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis |archive-date=December 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211210112221/https://www.archspm.org/pope-francis-names-rev-joseph-williams-auxiliary-bishop-of-saint-paul-and-minneapolis/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Omastiak |first=Rebecca |title=Pope Francis names new auxiliary bishop of Minneapolis, St. Paul |url=https://kstp.com/minnesota-news/pope-francis-names-rev-joseph-williams-new-auxiliary-bishop-of-minneapolis-st-paul/6327719/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211210143321/https://kstp.com/minnesota-news/pope-francis-names-rev-joseph-williams-new-auxiliary-bishop-of-minneapolis-st-paul/6327719/ |archive-date=December 10, 2021 |accessdate=December 10, 2021 |work=KSTP.com}}</ref> On January 25, 2022, Williams was consecrated as a bishop by Archbishop Bernard Hebda at the Cathedral of Saint Paul, with Bishops Richard Pates and Andrew H. Cozzens acting as co-consecrators.<ref name="www.catholic-hierarchy.org" /> During his time as auxiliary bishop, Williams led initiatives for Latino ministry and the implementation of the 2022 archdiocesan synod.
== Coadjutor Bishop and Bishop of Camden == Pope Francis named Williams as coadjutor bishop of Camden on May 21, 2024, to assist Bishop Dennis Sullivan.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pope Francis Appoints Bishop Joseph Williams as Coadjutor Bishop of Camden {{!}} USCCB |url=https://www.usccb.org/news/2024/pope-francis-appoints-bishop-joseph-williams-coadjutor-bishop-camden |access-date=May 21, 2024 |website=www.usccb.org |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2024/05/21/240521b.html |title=Resignations and Appointments, 21.05.2024 |accessdate=May 21, 2024}}</ref> He was received with a mass of welcome on September 10, 2024.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://thecatholicspirit.com/news/local-news/bishop-williams-appointed-as-coadjutor-bishop-of-camden-new-jersey/ |title=Bishop Williams named coadjutor bishop of Camden, New Jersey |accessdate=May 21, 2024 |archive-date=May 21, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240521125140/https://thecatholicspirit.com/news/local-news/bishop-williams-appointed-as-coadjutor-bishop-of-camden-new-jersey/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://catholicstarherald.org/bishop-williams-mass-of-welcome-a-ticketed-event/ |title=Bishop Williams’ Mass of Welcome a ticketed event |accessdate=August 30, 2024 |archive-date=August 31, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240831221203/http://catholicstarherald.org/bishop-williams-mass-of-welcome-a-ticketed-event/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Williams became the ninth bishop of Camden on March 17, 2025, upon Sullivan's retirement.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bishop Joseph A. Williams, Ninth Bishop of Camden |url=https://catholicstarherald.org/bishop-joseph-a-williams-ninth-bishop-of-camden/ |website=Catholic Star Herald |access-date=March 17, 2025 |date=March 17, 2025}}</ref>
==See also== {{div col}} * Church of Saint Stephen (Minneapolis, Minnesota) * Catholic Church hierarchy * Catholic Church in the United States * Historical list of the Catholic bishops of the United States * List of Catholic bishops of the United States * Lists of patriarchs, archbishops, and bishops {{div col end}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{wikiquote|Joseph Andrew Williams}} {{commons category}}
*[https://www.camdendiocese.org/ Diocese of Camden Official Site] *[https://www.archspm.org/ Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis Official Site]
{{s-start}} {{s-rel|ca}}
{{succession box |title=Bishop of Camden |before= Dennis Joseph Sullivan |after= - |years= 2025–present | }}
{{succession box |title=Coadjutor Bishop of Camden |before= - |after= - |years= 2024–2025 | }}
{{succession box |title=Auxiliary Bishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis |before= - |after= - |years= 2022–2024 | }} {{s-end}}
{{portal bar|Biography|Catholicism|Minnesota}} <!--- New Jersey ---> {{Diocese of Camden|state=collapsed}} {{Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis|state=collapsed}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Joseph A.}} Category:1974 births Category:Living people Category:University of St. Thomas (Minnesota) alumni Category:University of Minnesota alumni Category:Franciscan University of Steubenville alumni Category:Clergy from Minneapolis Category:20th-century American Roman Catholic priests Category:21st-century American Roman Catholic bishops Category:21st-century Roman Catholic bishops in the United States Category:Bishops appointed by Pope Francis Category:Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis