Joseph F. Girzone
Joseph Francis Girzone (May 15, 1930 – November 29, 2015), sometimes known as the "Joshua Priest", was an American Catholic priest and writer, most notably as the author of the Joshua series of novels.
Life
Early life
Girzone was born in Albany, New York, to Peter, a butcher, and Margaret Girzone, the oldest of their twelve children. It was a struggling family, which experienced the shame of eviction during his childhood.<ref name=TU2 /
Girzone entered the Carmelite Order as a young man and was ordained as a priest in 1955. A few years later he chose to leave the order in favor of life as a secular priest and was accepted by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany. He then served at various parishes of the diocese, in the course of which he became active in advocating for the elderly. He was a driving force in the formation of the Office for the Aging of Montgomery County.<ref name=TU /
In 1981, however, Girzone was diagnosed with a heart condition which was judged to be fatal, leading him to retire from active ministry.<ref name=girzone-site / He accepted the forfeiture of any pension or medical benefits from the diocese as part of an agreement for his early retirement.<ref name=NCR /
