The Episcopal Ordination of bishop-elect Joseph A. Williams recently took place after he was named the auxiliary bishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis by Pope Francis in December 2020. 

In a recent tweet, the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis looked toward the event, sharing a link outlining details of Williams’ ordination, which took place Jan. 25 at the Cathedral of Saint Paul. The event also marked the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle.  

“Just two weeks away from the Episcopal Ordination of the Most Reverend Joseph Williams,” the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis wrote in a tweet earlier this month.

According to the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis website, Williams is a priest in the archdiocese, currently serving as the pastor of the Church of Saint Stephen and the Church of the Holy Rosary in Minneapolis, as well as the archdiocese’s Vicar for Latino Ministry. A report by KSTP states Williams has previously served as the chaplain to the Minnesota House of Representatives, as well as the coordinator of Archdiocesan Outreach to Persons with Disabilities. 

Born in Stillwater in 1974 as the third of nine children, Williams graduated summa cum laude from the University of Minnesota and earned a degree in philosophy and pre-theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville, the website states. After graduation, he went on to study at the Saint Paul Seminary, where he earned a Masters of Divinity and was ordained to the priesthood in May 2002. His brother Father Peter Williams is also a priest of the archdiocese, the website adds.