Reverend Joseph S. Palermo, J.D.

Reverend Joseph S. Palermo, Jr. is a native New Orleanian and the oldest of four children of Joseph S. and Joyce Palermo. He attended Jesuit High School and the University of New Orleans, where he obtained a B.A. in English, and then received a J.D. from Louisiana State University. He practiced law as a civil trial attorney in Metairie, LA for 12 years.

At his home parish of St. Jerome Church in Kenner, LA, Fr. Palermo began attending daily mass and became very actively involved in church ministry. After sensing a call to priesthood and after a lengthy time of discernment, he quit his law practice and entered Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, where he received an M. Div. in 1994.

After ordination to priesthood, Fr. Palermo served the Archdiocese of New Orleans as Parochial Vicar of two parishes, Associate Vocation Director, Executive Director of Pastoral Services, and Adjunct Spiritual Director at Notre Dame Seminary. Fr. Palermo greatly enjoyed spiritual direction and sought additional formation in that area by enrolling in a 2-year Training Program for Spiritual Directors offered by the Archdiocesan Spirituality Center. He was certified as a Spiritual Director in 2004.

In 2007, Archbishop Hughes appointed Fr. Palermo Spiritual Director at Notre Dame Seminary, where he has served to the present date. That same year Fr. Palermo attended a Training Program for Seminary Spiritual Directors at the Institute of Priestly Formation at Creighton University to deepen his skills for spiritual direction of men in formation for priesthood.

It has been a particular joy and blessing for Fr. Palermo to help seminarians grow into a deeper relationship with God and the Church and to journey with them as they discern if priesthood is their call. He has prepared a Manual for Seminary Spiritual Directors and has written a number of papers in this area.