While attending the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, the Diocese of Camden’s pilgrims had the opportunity to share lunch with a soon-to-be familiar face: Coadjutor Bishop Joseph Williams.
“He was very happy to be with us, and we spent almost 90 minutes together – a great gift!” said Sister Cecilia Nanni Costa, FMIJ, who serves in the Diocese of Camden. “We saw his heart as a good shepherd because he is preparing his new mission in our Diocese with prayer.”
Bishop Williams, formerly of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, was announced in May as coadjutor bishop of the Diocese of Camden. In March 2025, he is expected to become the ninth Bishop of Camden when the Holy Father formally accepts the resignation of Bishop Dennis Sullivan on his 80th birthday.
“Bishop Williams was very curious about who we are and had a lot of questions for all the people of the group – a young girl, sisters and consecrated, the deacon, a woman of the Franciscan Third Order. We are from different parishes, so he experienced an orientation training of our Diocese!” Sister Cecilia said.
“We also talked about Saint Francis of Assisi, to whom the Bishop is devoted, as he studied in Steubenville [Franciscan University],” she continued.
Claire Marino, 22, of the Catholic Community of Christ Our Light in Cherry Hill, said she appreciated his peaceful presence.
“He was immediately welcoming, talking to everyone, learning and remembering names, speaking to people in different languages,” said Marino, a recent graduate of Loyola University, Maryland. “He gave us a blessing and blessed our rosaries. I’m looking forward to seeing what he does in our Diocese.”
Richard MacDonald, a member of Knights of Columbus Council 13259 and Infant Jesus Parish, Woodbury Heights, laughed as he described the spontaneous lunch’s menu: pizza, shrimp cocktail and ice cream.
“He was very gracious and eager to have lunch with us,” Macdonald said. “The Bishop said he was grateful to have the opportunity to be coadjutor because it will give him the ability to study the Diocese and get to know its people.”
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