Welcoming Our New "Coadjutor" Bishop

Bishop Joseph A. Williams

Dear Parishioners,

In a few hours I will be leaving to participate in the Mass of Welcome for Bishop Joseph A. Williams at St. Agnes Church in Blackwood, NJ. Bishop Williams is being prepared to be the ninth Bishop of Camden, serving the Diocese of Camden as its Ordinary (its leader or head). Initially, he is named as coadjutor bishop, assisting Bishop Sullivan until he steps down in March, 2025.

I can remember the rector of my seminary telling me a long time ago that I would most likely see at least five different bishops as Ordinary of my diocese during my lifetime. Well, he was certainly right!

Bishop George H. Guilfoyle was the first bishop that I actually met. He presided at a ceremony dedicating the new St. Ann’s School in Wildwood, where I attended and served as an altar boy. I remember the bishop blessing the cornerstone of the school while I stood nearby as an altar boy during the ceremony. Many years later, Bishop Guilfoyle would be the bishop ordaining me a priest to serve our diocese!

Although he was not the head of our diocese, I was friendly with Bishop James L. Schad, the only auxiliary bishop that Camden ever had. I would act as the master of ceremonies for some of the bishop’s Confirmation assignments, often driving him to and from the various churches. During those drives, we had the opportunity to talk about many things and I am grateful for the many insights that the bishop shared with me. May he rest in peace!

Bishop James T. McHugh, Bishop Nicholas A. DiMarzio, Bishop Joseph A. Galante and Bishop Dennis J. Sullivan all succeeded Bishop Guilfoyle, making Bishop Williams the 6^th bishop that I will have had as my Ordinary.

Bishop Williams comes to us from the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, where he served as an auxiliary bishop. According to his biography in the Catholic Star Herald:

Born May 2, 1974, to Dr. Gary and Mary MacDonald Williams, Bishop Williams is the third of nine children. He grew up in Stillwater, where he attended Saint Croix Catholic School and Stillwater High School. His brother, Father Peter Williams, ordained in 2004, is a priest of the Archdiocese, and is Pastor of Saint Ambrose in Woodbury, Minnesota.

Bishop Williams holds a B.A. in biology from the University of Minnesota, Morris, graduating summa cum laude in 1996. He studied philosophy and pre-theology at Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio, from 1996-1998 and attended The St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity in St. Paul from 1998-2002, where he earned a Master of Divinity degree. He was ordained a priest at age 28.

I take this time to welcome Bishop Williams to our diocese and to thank Bishop Sullivan for his years of service to the diocese.

Our prayers are with you Bishop Williams as you begin your time here with us. At every Mass, when we pray for Joseph, our coadjutor bishop, know that you have our prayerful and loving support!  May God grant you good health and the necessary graces to be our spiritual shepherd.

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor