Text by Christine Iacobucci; photos by Justin Braga

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Rev. Fr. Joseph McDermott recently celebrated the 50th Anniversary of his Ordination as a Roman Catholic Priest during a mass last Sunday at Immaculate Conception.

Father McDermott, more affectionately referred to as “Father Joe,” has been serving Stoughton’s Immaculate Conception Church since 1992.

On Sunday, February 5, Father McDermott led a special and at times, very emotional mass. One of the most emotional moments came when he informed the congregation that the chalice (a cup for the wine of the Eucharist or mass) he was using was given to him by his parents for his ordination back on February 2, 1962. 

Following the mass more than 200 parishioners gathered in Immaculate Conception’s Church Hall to commemorate this momentous occasion. The standing room only crowd enjoyed everything from sandwiches and soup to pastries and cake, thanks to the many donations the church received.

Father Joe has an extremely full background of community service and it is only just to share a bit of his history with the residents of Stoughton.

His brother, Francis, wrote this short biography: 

[Joseph McDermott] is the son of the late Nathan and Mary (Kobis) McDermott.  He was born in Worcester, MA but spent most of his early years in Hudson, MA where he attended St Michael’s School and Hudson High School, graduating in 1953. He attended St Philip Neri School, Boston, MA. then entered Cardinal O’Connell Seminary in 1954.  He was ordained from St John’s Seminary by His Eminence, Richard Cardinal Cushing, on Feb 4, 1962

Fr McDermott, who is more commonly known as “Father Joe,” was first assigned to St Michael’s Church in Avon where he served as Associate Pastor from 1962-1968.  From there he became Associate Pastor at St. Catherine's In Norwood where he served until 1975.  While at St. Catherine’s he was Spiritual Director to the Catholic Youth Organization and the Young Adults Club.  He also served as President of the Norwood Clergy Association.  In 1970 Father Joe assisted in founding the Pulse organization, a drug abuse hotline.

In 1975 Father Joe entered the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge where he received a Fellowship.  While in Cambridge he assisted the Chaplaincy at Walpole State Prison, subsequently becoming the Chaplain at Norfolk State Prison, a position he held until 1992.  During his tenure as Chaplin he lived in residence at St. Timothy’s Rectory in Norwood.  In 1977, while at Norfolk, Cardinal Medeiros appointed Fr McDermott as Executive Director of The Guild of Our Lady of Ransom, the prison Ministry Program of the Archdiocese of Boston. 

During his tenure as Prison Chaplain, Father Joe accepted many speaking engagements throughout the Commonwealth. He has appeared on Channel 5’s The Good Day Show, Chronicle and Five All Night live, the Janet Jeghelian Show (WBZ radio) and the Hubert Jessup Show (WHOH radio). At the request of Governors’ King and Dukakis, he held positions on the Advisory Committee on State Chaplains in State Institutions and the Governors Advisory Committee on Drunk Driving.  He was Vice-President of the Eastern Region of the American Catholic Correctional Chaplains Association during the period 1978-1982.  In 1983, he was invited to help found SEEK Inc., a community-based, self-help program and hot-line south of Boston.

Father Joe’s educational achievements include a Masters Degree in History, and a Masters Degree in Divinity, from St. John’s Seminary.  In 1980 Father Joe received a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Andover-Newton Theological School.  To achieve these levels of education Father Joe attended Boston University, Weston Theological School and Harvard University.

In 1992 Father Joe was appointed to the Immaculate Conception Church in Stoughton where he continues to serve as Pastor.  He maintains a residence in Hudson, MA where his sister Mary, and nephew Brian and family, also reside.  His brother Francis resides in Norwood with his wife Joan.  In addition, Father Joe has 4 nieces and 5 nephews.

There are not many in the town of Stoughton who are not familiar with Father Joe and the many ways he contributes to the community. 

Stoughton resident and active contributor to Stoughton’s Food Pantry, Peg Carbone, describes him as, “truly a man of God and a wonderful resource for Stoughton. This includes his support of St. Anthony’s Free Market.”  

His contributions have touched many as the crowd last Sunday indicated.