Most Rev. Joseph Perry

Joseph Perry grew up Catholic in Chicago, one of six children. His father worked for city sanitation and the railroad.  At age 9, he told his mother he wanted to be a priest. He attended various Catholic schools and, at age 15, he entered St. Lawrence Seminary High School.  Following his formal graduate studies, Perry was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee on May 24, 1975. After earning a degree in canon law from Catholic University of America (1981), he went on to serve as a Professor of Canon Law, Chief Judicial Officer of the Tribunal, and pastor of All Saints Church in Milwaukee until his ordination as bishop in June 1998.

Perry received the titular diocese of Lead on May 5, 1998, and was consecrated as a bishop on June 29, 1998.  He was appointed the episcopal vicar for Vicariate VI of the Archdiocese of Chicago, serving Cardinal Francis George, OMI, the Archbishop of Chicago.  As a member of the USCCB, Perry has served on many committees, most notably as chairman of the Committee on African American Catholics. Perry is also vice-president of the National Black Catholic Congress’s board and a faithful advocate for Black Catholic concerns and organizations (including NBCCC).  

In 2010, Perry was named by Cardinal George to be the Diocesan Postulator for the sainthood cause of Fr. Augustus Tolton (now Servant of God Fr. Augustus Tolton).  In short order, through fund-raising, research, speaking engagements, pilgrimages, social media, and a partnership with St. Luke Productions for a nationally touring play, Perry has drawn more attention to the shocking absence (zero) of canonized African Americans and to how we can better support such causes (including Tolton’s).