Joseph M Siegel

Early life and education

The youngest of nine children, Joseph Siegel was born in Joliet, Illinois, to Francis and Marie Siegel. He was raised on a farm in Lockport Township. He was baptized at the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus and attended the parish grammar school. He attended St. Charles Borromeo High School Seminary in Romeoville from 1977 to 1980, and continued his studies at St. Meinrad Seminary College in Indiana, where he graduated magna cum laude with a degree in history in 1984.

He completed his seminary formation at the Pontifical North American College in Rome between 1984 and 1988. He earned a Bachelor of Sacred Theology degree cum laude from the Pontifical Gregorian University in 1987, and continued his theological studies at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas. He was ordained to the diaconate by Cardinal William W. Baum on April 14, 1988, at St. Peter's Basilica.

Ordination and ministry

Following his return to Illinois, Siegel was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Joseph L. Imesch on June 4, 1988. After his ordination, he completed his studies in systematic theology at the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, earning a Licentiate of Sacred Theology in 1990. His first assignment was as a parochial vicar at St. Isidore Church in Bloomingdale, where he remained until 1994. He then served at St. Mary Immaculate Church in Plainfield (1994-1998); St. Mary Nativity Church in Joliet (1998-2000); and the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus, where he also served as diocesan master of ceremonies. He became pastor of Visitation Church in Elmhurst in 2004.

Siegel was a member of the Presbyteral Council for nine years, including three years as chairman, and was appointed to the Diocesan Board of Consultors. He also served as director of Continuing Formation for Priests, a member of the Diocesan Vocation Board, the Priest Personnel Board, and dean of Eastern Will County. Within the Catholic Conference of Illinois, he served on the Executive Committee as a priest representative and was chairman of the Catholics for Life Department. He chaired the Steering Committee for the Joliet Diocesan Year of the Eucharist and Eucharistic Congress, and is a member of the Bishops Respect Life Advisory Board. He is a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus and a member of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre. He is currently the State Chaplain for the Knights of Columbus' Illinois State Council.

Auxiliary Bishop of Joliet

On October 28, 2009, Siegel was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Joliet and Titular Bishop of Pupiana by Pope Benedict XVI. He received his episcopal consecration on January 19, 2010 from Bishop J. Peter Sartain, with Bishops Joseph L. Imesch and Frank J. Dewane serving as co-consecrators, at the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus. He selected as his episcopal motto: In Te Domine Speravi.