Bishop Joseph Espaillat (also known as “Bishop Joe”) is a native New Yorker, the son of Jose and Mercedes Baez, who migrated to New York from the Dominican Republic. Bishop Espaillat attended Cathedral Preparatory School and Seminary in Queens, and earned a Bachelor of Philosophy degree from Fordham University in 1998. He then continued his studies at St. Joseph’s Seminary (Dunwoodie), where he earned a Master of Divinity degree in 2003 and was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of New York on May 17, 2003.

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After ordination, Fr. Espaillat served as parochial vicar in Washington Heights and Yonkers at St. Peter’s Parish, where in 2009 he was named pastor. In 2012, he was appointed Director of Youth Ministry for the Archdiocese; then in 2015, he was named pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in the Bronx—a position he currently holds.

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On January 25, 2022, Pope Francis named and appointed Joseph A. Espaillat as an Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese of New York. On March 1, 2022, Cardinal Timothy Dolan consecrated Joseph Espaillat as a bishop. At the age of 45, Bishop Espaillat became the youngest Catholic bishop in the United States and one of the youngest in the universal Church.

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Whether through the celebration of Mass or Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, through mainstream Youth Ministry gatherings, through rap or “spoken word,” or other unconventional methods, gatherings, and occasions, many people know that Bishop Joe knows how to reach people, especially young people; to make the Good News of the Gospel come alive and become real in their circumstance.