Fr. Marialal Joseph, CMI

My name is Fr. MarialaI Joseph CMI. I was born and raised in a devoted Catholic family in Kerala, a southern state in India as the third son of my loving parents Joseph and Annie.  My parents' committed catholic life and the inspiration of the priests and nuns in the family influenced and nurtured my love towards priesthood and religious life.  After graduating from my parish catholic high school, I entered the minor seminary of Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI), the religious order founded by St. Kuriakose Elias Chavara, who was canonized by Pope Francis on November 23, 2014. I received my religious habit and made my profession of religious vows in 1999 and became a member of the religious order.
I graduated from Bangalore University (India) with a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics and Statistics. I had my studies in Philosophy and Theology at CMI major seminary, Dharmaram Pontifical Athenaeum, Bangalore, India and was ordained to the priesthood on December 28, 2009.
Before I was sent by my superiors to the United States, I had served as the Associate Pastor, Provincial Secretary, School Teacher, and the director of the publishing house of my religious community.
In 2013, I came to the United States and was the Parochial Vicar of the Sacred Heart-Our Lady of Pompeii Parish, Dobbs Ferry, in the Archdiocese of New York until February 2018. While serving in the parish, I graduated with a Master's Degree from Iona College, New York, in 2017. I was assigned the temporary Parochial Vicar of St. Paul's Parish at Jacksonville Beach in 2018. Later, I served at Queen of Peace Catholic Community, Gainesville, as the Parochial Vicar until June 2021. I am delighted to be here at St. Augustine's and looking forward to serving and sharing the love of God at St. Augustine's Parish and Catholic Student Center.