If ever a hustler priest and Saint of a person has walked among us, I believe Father Joe Carroll was that person. He was sent to San Diego to help our neighbors and up-lift humanity.
John Wismont, 2018
Father joe Carroll, was born on April 12, 1941 in the Bronx, New York. He was one of a family of ten. They all shared a two-bedroom apartment and were remarkably close, happy and fun loving. Life was good growing up for Joe Carroll. He always found jobs and ways to raise money to help and support his Irish family. His family and neighbors helped and respected one another, everyone knew each other’s name and was welcome to come and go as they pleased while doors were left unlocked.
Joe’s family and friends attended St. Joseph’s Catholic Church at East 178 Street. It was the center of life in the neighborhood were he learned to have fun become educated while growing up Catholic.
He was ordained a Catholic priest after entering the seminary in 1974. Parish work kept Father Joe busy for the next eight years, until he was appointed to create a “preferential option for the poor,” by Bishop Leo T. Maher, the head of San Diego’s Catholic Church.
In his travels Father Joe became aware of the homeless plight. He found shelters that were below human standards. He formed a vision to give the San Diego homeless a safe place to live and enlisted well established San Diegans to develop a village inside the city.
What Father Joe developed is the honored and unique care housing and rehabilitation center known as “Father Joe’s Village.”
Located on two city blocks, Housing and fresh meals are served daily in two dining rooms, rehabilitation programs provide multiple services. this in turn, leads the clients to self-esteem and a road to each individuals’ needs.