Fr. Donald Fest S.S.J., originally from Pittsburgh PA, has been a Josephite priest for 43 years serving at various parishes in Baltimore MD, Barrett Station TX, Washington DC, and presently in Alexandria VA. The Josephites, founded in 1871, are an American society of priests and brothers who were founded to serve solely in the African American community in the United States — the only such Catholic congregation with this mission. The order came to be in 1871 at the desire of Pope Pius IX to have ministers for the newly freed slaves in the USA.

priest preaching to congregation

Why I Preach About the Death Penalty

Posted Sep 09 2022

I do not devote my entire homilies to the subject of the death penalty, but whenever the opportunity arises, I mention it. It is my hope that I convey to my parishioners that the death penalty is wrong in many ways — not only in the official teachings of the Catholic Church, but in the scriptures themselves, particularly in the teachings of Jesus.