Meet Fr . Joeseph Juracek, OFM
Fr. Joseph Juracek was born in Johnson City, New York. During his early college career, he was drafted. After joining the Air Force, he was stationed in Rome, NY, and part of the group that started the first-ever Crucillos held on military bases. It was through one of these Crucillo experiences and a zealous conversation about St. Francis and the Friars that he received the call to join the Franciscan Friars. This last May 14th, Fr. Joe celebrated forty-one years as an ordained priest.
Fr. Joseph Juracek was born in Johnson City, New York. During his early college career, he was drafted. After joining the Air Force, he was stationed in Rome, NY, where he was part of the group that started the first-ever Crucillos held on military bases. It was through one of these Crucillo experiences and a zealous conversation about St. Francis and the Friars that he received the call to join the Franciscan Friars. This last May 14th, Fr. Joe celebrated 41 years as an ordained priest.
He was first stationed in Holy Name Parish in Garfield, NJ, as a deacon and then for one year as a newly ordained priest. He then went on to higher education, which gave him the opportunity to teach Scripture Studies for a year. Then, he studied Spirituality for two years. From there, he was stationed on Long Beach Island and then to St. Stephen of Hungary in NYC, allowing him to minister to a large Hungarian Community.
From there, he served as Vicar at the Church of St. Francis for six years. At this Parish, he started a spiritual-based counseling center, which led him to study to be a licensed clinical social worker. He worked at the center for about six more years. After this experience, he moved on to be an Associate Pastor at St. Joseph’s Church in East Rutherford, NJ, and then to be a Pastor at St. Mary’s in Obernburg, NY, where he stayed for six years.
After these assignments, he took a three-month sabbatical in the Holy Land. His time there was filled with studying and visiting the holy sites. This would be one of his life’s most moving and powerful experiences.
When he returned from his sabbatical, he was assigned to St. Mary’s in Pompton Lakes, NJ, where he was in charge of Adult Education. This was followed by an assignment as Pastor of St. Anthony’s Church in Butler, NJ, for six years. After this, he returned to the Church of St. Francis in NYC as Pastor. He had served there for a year before coming to the West Coast and our Parish of Mission San Luis Rey.
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