Hello,

My name is Joseph Gonzalez, and I am the youth minister here at St. John Neumann! Fr. Dan asked if I could write a bio in order to introduce myself to the youth and the rest of the parish. I thought to myself, “this has to be one of the easiest assignments I’ll receive while I’m here. I could talk about myself all day!” Well, hopefully that already tells you a little about me. As you read that, hopefully you’re able to tell that I have a silly side…either that or you think I am full of myself.

It is so exciting to be living in Lancaster County again! I grew up in Quarryville. I helped out in many ways at my home parish, St. Catherine of Siena. My favorite role at the parish was being the youth minister for 3 years. Thanks to that experience I already know several of the teens and their families here at St. John Neumann as well as from other parishes in Lancaster. As a bit of a side note, I am also actively involved with the young adults (those in their 20s and 30s) in Lancaster and throughout the diocese. This past school year I worked as a campus minister at Shippensburg University. God blessed me with so much joy and peace while ministering to teens and young adults. That is what led me to a full-time ministry position here at St. John Neumann.

Now for a few fun facts about me. I am a fairly active person, and I am outgoing, so if your teens want to do an activity together or just talk, please let me know! I am pursuing a masters degree in theology through the Theology of the Body Institute. I enjoy martial arts, juggling, and a good movie or book.

I look forward to getting to know each of you. Please pray for the teens as well as for those of us helping to minister, that God may work in and through us so that we may all grow in our relationship with Jesus.

God bless,