Good shepherd. Ambassador for Christ. A person of real encounter.
Using these words to describe their brother, the siblings of Bishop Joseph A. Williams shared stories of a life growing up together in Stillwater, Minn., his faith, and a calling that not only cast a light on them, but on their children.
“He’s not afraid to be with the people where they are,” said John Williams, who is only 11 months older than Bishop Williams.
The second and third children of Mary and Dr. Gary Williams, the boys grew up in Stillwater with their seven other siblings: Matthew, Father Peter Williams, Mark, Maria, Anne, Paul and Katie.
Days for the Williams family began with morning Mass at nearby Saint Mary Church, with one of the four oldest sons typically serving as altar servers. “Our faith was a very formative thing growing up,” John Williams said, expressing appreciation for his parents in creating a Catholic culture in their household.
Daily Mass strengthened the bond between the siblings, he said. “When it’s dark and cold [during Minnesota winters], when you’re all going together, it does become an enjoyable rhythm of life.”
After Mass, it was Saint Croix Catholic School, followed by a favorite pastime of the four oldest children. “We’d come home from school, change into jeans and go outside. In the fall, it’d be football. In the spring, it’d be baseball,” he said. “We were all competitive and wanted to win.”
The two oldest brothers shared a bedroom with Matthew and Father Peter, a loft at the top of the house. Each brother had his own twin bed and a personal cedar chest for belongings. The four shared one bathroom.
In college, John and Bishop Williams even shared a dorm room for one semester at the University of Minnesota, Morris, when the former was a sophomore and the latter a freshman. He saw firsthand, in closeness of home and heart, his brother’s seamless manner of connection.
“Joseph was always thoughtful and reflective, as well as intelligent, humorous and relational. In a few moments of any conversation, he could pick up on what’s important to you, and connect with you,” John Williams recalled.
When he learned of his brother’s plan to enter the seminary, he admitted that he “was surprised, but not shocked, because of his intellect and thoughtfulness.”
‘Along for the ride’
Anne Williams Droske, the seventh of the nine Williams children, who is eight years younger than Bishop Williams, remembers when he and Father Peter would come home on break from the seminary. A high-schooler at the time, she’d see “their excitement about learning the faith. There was a striving for holiness evident in them. My brothers were so in love for the Lord, and I was along for the ride.”
“They invited us into their world in unique, tangible ways, as they were learning in a deeper, more enriching way,” she said.
The witness of her priest brothers “permanently changed me,” she said. “I learned to pray better and to love better.”
Today, she takes pride in seeing her own children – Andrew, Elizabeth, Rose, Marie, Bridget (Bishop Williams’ goddaughter), Catherine and Teresa – see joy in their uncle. “He’s always spending time with them just to … laugh at funny YouTube videos with them or learn about their lives.”
At the same time, “He shows the priesthood in an exciting and joyful way.”
Lead by example
The youngest Williams child, Katie Williams Ranniger, recalled an older brother who has always been “larger than life, fun and easy to be around, [who] was never too busy for me. I always got the sense that he had no other plans than just to be with me.”
On her brother’s visits home from seminary, she felt herself “captivated by the stories Joseph would share of the holy friendships, liturgy and community life he was experiencing.”
A special moment was Christmas 2001, when Bishop Williams had her name in the family’s gift exchange. “I was 16, and he gave me a Canada-themed basket with the Canadian maple leaf, maple syrup and a handwritten invitation to join him in Toronto for World Youth Day the next summer.”
The next summer, she saw “the young Church so alive. The experience of what my brother was living lit a new fire of faith in me.”
Katie also was influenced by her brother when the then-pastor of Saint Stephen in Minneapolis invited her to join in the parish mission to evangelize door to door. The first day, the group of 12 English-speaking and 12 Spanish-speaking volunteers were given a pep talk before being sent out.
“None of us felt qualified or equipped, but he reminded us that that’s probably how the first apostles felt. He went out with us after that, and did the work with us. He was a good shepherd,” she said.
In speaking with people, hearing their stories and inviting them to Mass at Saint Stephen, Katie had a “transformative experience,” including meeting a Somali woman who invited her in for a meal.
“Joseph’s always thrown me into deep waters, with a smile and encouragement,” she said. “He’s always taught me to contribute what I can, do my best and make it beautiful.”
She couldn’t help but laugh as she recalled a tradition during the family’s annual summer vacation at Butternut Point Resort in northern Minnesota – evidence of her brother’s ability to attract all of God’s living creatures.
When not swimming, grilling, fishing, kayaking or playing volleyball with his family or other peers, Bishop Williams “would put peanuts on his cap, sit patiently, and chipmunks would come up and grab it. All the kids would sit around watching this and were amazed,” she said.
Looking ahead
Bishop Williams’ siblings admit they will miss the close-distance connection, but are happy the Diocese of Camden’s faithful will be able to experience what they’ve known their whole lives.
“I’m excited for Camden to experience real fatherhood in him, along with his joy, goodness and sense of humor. His heart is one of a shepherd,” Katie said
Anne added, “He has a way of seeing all people, loving them well, and leading them to Jesus.”
In his new home, Bishop Williams will “bring that same love for people and evangelizing spirit. He has a way of making God known and loved. He wants to bring that compassion of God to each person, that they might know their worth. He loves being an ambassador for Christ.”
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