Fr. J. Friedel

A native of Florissant, Missouri, Rev. J. Friedel, M.A., M. Div., was ordained a priest for service in the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau in December, 1986.  He served as associate pastor at two parishes in Springfield, MO, prior to becoming pastor of a large mission territory (three parishes, roughly three counties, 4000 square miles) in the Piedmont/Van Buren/Williamsville region of the state. 

In 1993, he was appointed Director of Catholic Campus Ministry at Southeast Missouri State University, where he served for thirteen years.  In 1997, Fr. J. added classroom time to his duties at the university, teaching part-time in the Department of Political Science, Philosophy and Religion. 

In the summer of 2006, Fr. J. was named Director of Vocations and Seminarians for the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau and was assigned as pastor of St. Peter the Apostle Parish in Joplin, Missouri. While moving on from his position as Vocation Director in July of 2016, he continues to serve as the Diocesan Director of Campus Ministry for the diocese, since as part of his duties as a pastor Fr. J. is the Director of the parish-based Catholic Campus Ministry at Missouri Southern State University.

In 2011, Fr. J. added “Disaster Specialist” to his job description, serving a community that was devastated by an F-5 tornado on May 22, 2011. While that work was both challenging and fulfilling, his best piece of advice about surviving natural disasters is, “Avoid them!”

In the past four years, Fr. J.  has added St. Ann parish in Carthage and Sacred Heart parish in Webb City to his pastoral duties, along with coordination of Sacramental care to the Catholic patients at Mercy-Joplin.  He is enjoying serving with a collaborative team of associates in an emerging regional ministry!

Fr. J. is a former Chair of the Executive Board for the national Catholic Campus Ministry Association and still serves that organization as a member of the Executive Board and as the “Ambassador for Certification” on the Certification Committee, which assists the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in promoting and certifying campus ministers for the United States.  He has just survived his third round of assisting in the “re-certification” of CCMA with the USCCB!

Fr. J. is well known as a preacher and speaker and has given numerous national presentations for both students and campus ministers, ranging from Ritual and Greek Life to Catholic Identity and Engaging the Academy.  He laughingly reminds his students and parishioners, “I talk for a living!”  After thirty-five years as a priest, his favorite work is still to preach and preside at Sunday Eucharist.

Currently, Fr. J. is the pastor to two parishes in southern Missouri, Our Lady of the Lake in Branson and Our Lady of the Ozarks in Forsyth. He has been well received by parishioners and visitors. Fr. J. has lovingly embraced the tourism in Branson and all of our "Parishioners-for-a-Day!"

Fr. J. says he has thoroughly enjoyed his time as both a pastor and a campus minister and is grateful that he can remain active in both fields of ministry.  Along with his responsibilities in the training of new priests for the diocese, the three areas of ministry provide a wonderful crossroads where his commitment to his faith and his love for learning and teaching come together in a rewarding manner.

3 Things You Didn't Know About Father J.

• He worked for the NFL
• He had his own TV Show
• He once played Nana in Peter Pan