Guess what, folks? Joseph Espaillat is totally shaking things up in the Catholic church, and he’s doing it in the coolest way possible!
So, this 45-year-old NYC native just snagged the title of the youngest Roman Catholic bishop in the whole U.S. of A. No big deal, right? But get this – it all went down last year at the world-famous St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan.
Now, in a sit-down with Al Roker on TODAY Show, Espaillat revealed how he got the news from the Vatican. Picture this: His phone rings, not once, not twice, but four times from Washington, D.C. At first, he’s all like, “I’m not picking this up; I don’t owe anybody money,” and we’re cracking up. But on the sixth ring, he’s like, “Alright, let’s do this.”
Turns out, this call changes his life, and he’s soon chatting with someone from Washington, D.C. about how he’s about to become the coolest auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of New York, hanging out with the recently appointed Bishop John Bonnici.
Now, here’s where it gets even better. Espaillat isn’t your typical bishop. Nope, he’s got these wild teaching methods that make him the talk of the town. Imagine a bishop who raps to connect with the young crowd in his community. Yup, that’s our guy!
He’s also got a wicked podcast titled “Sainthood in the City.” Why? Because he’s out here proving that saints can be hip, wear hoodies, and rock Jordans. Take that, stereotypes!
But wait, how did Espaillat even end up on this divine path? Well, a “great priest” in high school threw down the gauntlet, telling him, “Jo, I think God might be calling you to become a priest.” And Espaillat, in all his coolness, was like, “Okay, challenge accepted!”
Read: Pope Francis Was Once a Bouncer
Fast forward through Fordham University and an “intense spirituality year” in rural Pennsylvania, and we’ve got a bishop who’s not afraid to break the mold.
The rap thing? Oh, that started at a talent show in his parish, where kids wanted to rap but only knew songs with, um, not-so-churchy lyrics. So what does Father Espaillat do? He drops a bomb rap and proves everyone wrong. Mic drop!
Now, some might question his unconventional teaching style, but Espaillat’s got a solid comeback. He’s just using his talents to speak to his community, just like Jesus did back in the day. Preach, Bishop, preach!
And here’s the grand finale – after being ordained in 2003, Espaillat is now not just any bishop but the first Dominican bishop in the New York Archdiocese. Talk about making history!
Read: Dominican Republic, The Only Flag in The World with a Bible on it
But it’s not just about him. He knows his role is a nod to the people of color, the minorities, saying, “We see you. And you are important.” So, here’s to Bishop Espaillat, the cool cat making waves in the Catholic world! 🎤🙌
