R. Joseph Owles

R. Joseph Owles is a Franciscan-rooted bishop in the Old Catholic tradition, an unrepentant and fearless champion of “the least of these,” seeking to serve the invisible God by serving those made in God’s image. He has served as a trauma chaplain, hospice chaplain, and now works as a bereavement coordinator for hospice. An author, poet, teacher, historian, and theologian, he has written multiple books on spirituality, grief, and justice, including A Song to My Soul, Awake, and A Sheep Among Wolves: One Man’s Stubborn Commitment to the Idea That God Is Love. He has also translated Christian classics, including The Didache and The Rule of Saint Benedict. His writing blends theological depth with poetic grit and pastoral honesty. He resides in southern New Jersey, where he imperfectly practices a semi-monastic lifestyle shaped by Franciscan spirituality. He is a friend to crows, rescuer of dogs, feeder of birds, a companion of hummingbirds, and an unrepentant champion of the least of these.