Fr. Joseph P. Lacey, SJ, was called to eternal life on March 28, 2026, at the St. Claude La Colombière Jesuit Community in Baltimore. He was 85 years old, a Jesuit for 67 years, and a priest for 55 years.
Fr. Lacey was born on September 11, 1940, in Philadelphia, PA. He attended St. Joseph’s Preparatory School before entering the Society of Jesus at the Novitiate of St. Isaac Jogues in Wernersville, PA, on July 30, 1958.
He pursued his early Jesuit formation with studies in philosophy and English at Loyola Seminary, Shrub Oak, New York, earning a B.A. in Philosophy in 1964 and an M.A. in English in 1966. His formation also included studies in Hindi, preparing him for missionary service abroad. He undertook theological studies at De Nobili College in Pune, India, and was ordained to the priesthood on March 27, 1971, at St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Jamshedpur, India. He pronounced his final vows on August 15, 1977, in Dhanbad, India.
Fr. Lacey devoted many years of his priestly life to missionary service in India, specifically in the Jesuit Province of Jamshedpur, where he served in a variety of roles including teacher, minister, pastor, spiritual director, and superior. His work ranged from teaching English and religion to serving as pastor and retreat director, as well as guiding young Jesuits in formation. He also spent eight years serving and ministering to those suffering from leprosy.
Returning to the United States in 1987, Fr. Lacey continued his ministry in pastoral and spiritual roles. He served as assistant director of campus ministry at the University of Scranton, pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Richmond, VA, and parochial vicar at Holy Trinity Parish in Washington, D.C. From 1998 to 2018, he served as pastor of St. Alphonsus Rodriguez Church in Woodstock, MD, where he was known for his dedication, warmth, and pastoral care. He continued briefly as a sacramental minister following his tenure as pastor. While there, he led teenage parishioners on a pilgrimage to India to give them a first-hand look at the needs of those in extreme poverty and they joy of serving them.
In his later years, Fr. Lacey was missioned to a ministry of prayer for the Church and the Society of Jesus. He resided at the St. Claude La Colombière Jesuit Community in Baltimore and at Manresa Hall in Merion Station, PA, before returning to Baltimore in December 2025.
Fr. Lacey will be remembered as a devoted Jesuit missionary, a compassionate pastor, and a faithful servant of the Gospel. His life was marked by generosity, adaptability, and a deep love for the people he served across cultures and continents.
May he rest in the peace of Christ, whom he served with humility, dedication, and love.
Click here to light a Virtual Candle in memoriam of the life and legacy of Fr. Joe Lacey, SJ.
