CAMDEN – Pope Francis announced at Noon today in Rome the appointment of Bishop Joseph A. Williams as coadjutor bishop of the Diocese of Camden.
A coadjutor bishop is appointed to assist the diocesan bishop until his retirement.
Bishop Dennis J. Sullivan submitted his letter of resignation to the Holy Father, as required by Canon Law, on his 75th birthday, March 17, 2020. In honor of his faithful service to the people of New York and Camden, Bishop Sullivan has been notified that his resignation will be accepted on his 80th birthday, March 17, 2025.
During this time of transition, Bishop Sullivan retains the full responsibility for the Diocese of Camden, as Bishop Williams learns the diocese and acquaints himself with South Jersey.
“I am immensely thankful to Pope Francis for his decision to appoint to the Diocese of Camden a bishop with so much experience as a pastor, and one so familiar with Latino culture. I am also humbled that the Holy Father is allowing me the opportunity to complete my time as the Bishop of Camden working alongside my successor,” said Bishop Sullivan.
Bishop Williams, a native Midwesterner, was surprised to learn he would be coming to the East Coast, “I am overjoyed in coming to a diocese whose Bishop is held in such high esteem by both the faithful and the Holy Father. I look forward to learning from Bishop Sullivan, my brother priests in Camden, the deacons, consecrated women and men and the faithful of South Jersey about their needs and their hopes for the future.”
Bishop Williams’ introductory press conference will be held in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Camden on Tuesday, May 21 at 10 AM.
A livestream of Bishop Williams’ installation is available at https://www.facebook.com/CamdenDiocese and https://www.youtube.com/camdendiocese.
About Bishop Williams
Bishop Williams was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis in 2002. His episcopal ordination took place January 25, 2022, the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul. Prior to his appointment as auxiliary bishop and current assignment as moderator and priest-in-solidum of the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Saint Paul, he served as pastor of Saint Stephen in Minneapolis (2008-2022); parochial administrator of Holy Rosary in Minneapolis (2020-2022); ministered as a parochial vicar at the Cathedral of Saint Paul in Saint Paul (2002-2004) and at Divine Mercy in Faribault (2004-2005). He was pastor of Saint Mathias in Hampton and Saint Mary in New Trier (2005-2008). He has also served as coordinator of the Archdiocesan Outreach to Persons with Disabilities (2003-2005).
He was appointed the Archdiocesan Vicar for Latino Ministry in 2018. He is a member of the board of trustees for The Saint Paul Seminary and Saint John Vianney College Seminary. He has served as chaplain of the Minnesota House of Representatives.
Born May 2, 1974, to Dr. Gary and Mary McDonald 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.
Bishop Williams is known for his longtime ministry to Latino and Spanish-speaking Catholics in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, beginning in Faribault, where he and other parish leaders worked to bring healing to a Latino community that had been wounded by drug raids. Members of both of his most recent parishes are predominantly Latino, and he has worked to change negative cultural perceptions of undocumented immigrants. He has led neighborhood-based evangelization efforts, which include knocking on doors and inviting people to Mass and faith formation.
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