Father Joseph Stephen Hall departed this life for the next on June 13, 2020. He was 78 years old and had been a priest for 35 years. He was the priest that brought my wife and I into the Catholic church.
He was the gentlest of souls, but firm in his loyalty to the Church and the Holy Father. I’ll never forget how he didn’t even bat an eye when we approached him after Mass, two total strangers who had recently moved to the community, and told him that we wanted to be Catholic.
He took us so seriously, and journeyed with us over an extended period of time until we were confirmed and remarried within the Church. He brought us home.
We moved away from the area, but came back on retreat to the Abbey of Gethsemani regularly and would visit with him. On one retreat, he surprised me by walking into the Abbey just as I was leaving the dining room. I asked him why he was there. He said, “I came to see you.” I was so deeply touched and so appreciative that God connected us up so efficiently.
We also met up with him each year at The Church Teaches Forum in Louisville. He took time out to be with us and find out about our spiritual journey. We made sure we there at the end of the program on Saturday night when he led the Rosary.
He dedicated a Mass to us on our 25th wedding anniversary. It was a moving experience and brought back memories of our first eucharist with him. Later that evening he went out to dinner with us, and we have a beautiful photo of the three of us enjoying one another’s company.
When he had to go to the nursing home, we visited him as often as possible, and he was always willing to listen to us, and bless us, though he may not have been able to talk.
We have now been Catholics for nearly 24 years, and still keep our first priest in our thoughts. I talk with him daily in my morning prayers. Even today he is my spiritual mentor, and I hope to see him again in the next world.
If you would like to find out how other folks loved and revered this holy priest, check out this link: