Rev. Msgr. Joseph Chapel, S.T.D.

Associate Spiritual Director, Immaculate Conception Seminary; Director of Permanent Diaconate Formation, Archdiocese of Newark
Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology

Reverend Monsignor Joseph R. Chapel, S.T.D., Associate Spiritual Director, earned an M.A. in International Relations from the Paul S. Nitze School for Advanced International Studies (SAIS), The Johns Hopkins University. He also earned an S.T.B. from The Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, and an S.T.L. and an S.T.D. from Accademia Alfonsiana (Lateran University), Rome. His doctoral dissertation is titled "Why Confess Our Sins Out Loud? An Analysis Based on the Dialogical Philosophy of Ferdinand Ebner in Light of the Philosophy of Language and the Symbolic Sacramentology of Louis-Marie Chauvet." Ordained to the priesthood in 1992, Monsignor Chapel has taught Moral Theology, Reconciliation & Anointing and Preaching Practicum and has served as a member of the theological faculty of the Pastoral Provision. His research and writing have focused on the intersection of Dialogical Personalist Philosophy with Sacramental Theology.

Monsignor Chapel has served the Seminary in varied capacities, among them as professor, mentor, spiritual director, confessor, Associate Dean, Co-Director of the Institute for Christian Spirituality and Director of the Center for Diaconal Formation. In Spring 2009, he was named Chaplain to His Holiness with the title of Monsignor. In 2014, Monsignor Chapel accepted the appointment as Spiritual Director of the Casa Santa Maria in Rome, Italy.  In 2017 he became Pastor of Our Lady of Mercy Parish, Park Ridge, NJ and subsequently, Pastor of St. Andrew Church, Westwood, NJ.  He currently serves as Director of Permanent Diaconate Formation for the Archdiocese of Newark.