Dear parishioners of St. Jude the Apostle,

Peace of Christ to you all! I have had the pleasure of meeting some of you over the past year, but for those to whom I have not yet introduced myself: my name is Joshua Miller, and I am a thirdyear seminarian for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee studying at Saint Francis de Sales Seminary.

I grew up in Menomonee Falls, and most of my family still resides in the northwest suburbs of Milwaukee. I was raised in a very faithful Christian home, in the Reformed Baptist (or “neoCalvinist”) tradition, where we prayed, read the Bible, and attended church regularly. I moved out of state for eight years, first to Illinois for college and then to North Carolina for grad school and a teaching job, before returning home to Wisconsin. During that period, the Lord was leading me on a spiritual and theological journey which culminated on August 2, 2020, when I was confirmed in the Catholic Church.

Once I entered the Church, the Holy Spirit prompted me to deepen my prayer life and also to discern the priesthood. I moved into the JPII House of Discernment, and eventually I determined that God was calling me to seminary. Last month, after two years in seminary, I became an official “candidate” to receive the sacrament of Holy Orders, so you might see me around the parish wearing all black and a clerical collar. Though I am not yet a priest, and won’t be for a few more years, wearing black with a white collar is a sign that my life has been set apart from the world and ordered (hence, “Holy Orders”) in a total way toward the service of God and his Church.

As a part of my priestly formation, I have been blessed with a “teaching parish” assignment at St. Jude in order to work with and learn from Fr. Justin Weber along with the entire parish community. God-willing, I will be serving with you until I am ordained a priest. This year I have a special assignment, called a “pastoral year,” where I will be living at the parish rectory rather than at the seminary. The main purpose of this pastoral year is for me to finish writing my dissertation. I began a PhD program in historical theology (with a focus on the Church Fathers / early Church history) at Marquette University before entering seminary, and the Archbishop has graciously granted me the time and space to finish that program before I continue on in my seminary studies.

Thus, while I will be involved in the parish in various ways this year—such as participating at daily Masses, or bringing communion to people, or attending other parish events and gatherings—much of my time will be spent at my desk researching and writing, and hopefully completing a successful dissertation! Please pray for me in this regard, as I will be praying for you and St. Jude parish.

I would be delighted to meet and get to know you over this coming year and beyond, so please do not hesitate to introduce yourself. I will be especially present during the weekend Masses, so I hope to see you there!

God bless you,

Joshua