Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Siegel was born in Joliet, Illinois, and 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 1977-1980 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 from 1984-1988, where he earned his Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology (STB) cum laude from the Pontifical Gregorian University in 1987. He continued his theological studies at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas. He was ordained to the diaconate by William Cardinal Baum at the Basilica of St. Peter in Vatican City on April 14, 1988. Bishop Siegel returned home to be ordained to the priesthood on June 4, 1988, by the Most Rev. Joseph Imesch at the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus in Joliet. After ordination, he completed his studies in systematic theology at the University of St. Mary of the Lake, Mundelein, IL, earning a Licentiate in Sacred Theology (STL) in 1990.

He was assigned as parochial vicar at St. Isidore Parish, Bloomingdale; St. Mary Immaculate Parish, Plainfield; St. Mary Nativity Parish, Joliet; and the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus, where he also served as diocesan master of ceremonies. He had been pastor at Visitation Parish in Elmhurst since 2004.

In addition to his parish ministry, Bishop Siegel has also served the diocese in many capacities. He has been a member of the Presbyteral Council for nine years, including three years as chairman and was appointed to the Diocesan Board of Consultors. He has been Director of Continuing Formation for Priests, a member of the Diocesan Vocation Board, the Priest Personnel Board and served as the Dean of Eastern Will County. With 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 was the chairman of the Steering Committee for the Joliet Diocesan Year of the Eucharist and Eucharistic Congress and was a member of the Bishop’s Respect Life Advisory Board. He is a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus and a member of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre.

In his spare time, Bishop Siegel enjoys playing the piano and organ, reading, classical music and Chicago Cubs baseball. He is the youngest of nine children. His parents, Francis and Marie Siegel, are deceased. His aunt, Sr. M. Clotine Siegel, OSF, was a Joliet Franciscan.

 

Bishop Joseph M. Siegel article in January 2010 Christ Is Our Hope Magazine

October 28, 2009 Press Release

 

COAT OF ARMS