OSB Fr. Joseph Chang

Our confrere, Father Joseph Chang, the eldest member of the community, died at St. Patrick Residence, Naperville, IL, in the early morning of August 14, 2025. He was born in Shanghai, China, on November 23, 1926, and there he grew up as a member of a prominent banking family. When fourteen years old, he was deeply affected by the assassination of his grandfather amidst the turmoil of the Sino-Japanese War. This led the youngster to serious reflection upon the meaning of human life, a time of discernment in which he was greatly assisted by the counsel of a member of the Society of Jesus. As a result, he underwent a religious conversion and became a Catholic. After some studies in accounting, Joseph entered the Jesuits in 1945 and after professing vows took classes at the Society's Aurora University, also in Shanghai. With his fellow-scholastics, he left that city in mid-1948 due to the threat from the advancing Communist armies. After a few months in Macao, he was sent to the Philippines in 1949. There he received in 1953 a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Sacred Heart College, Manila. Following his ordination to the priesthood by Bishop William Brasseur in Baguio on March 18, 1957, Father Joseph in 1960 completed a licentiate in sacred theology at Bellarmine College in that city. For the next several years, he labored in various Jesuit pastoral and educational ministries in Taiwan and the Philippines, demonstrating a capacity for business and financial affairs that would serve him (and many others) in good stead throughout his life. While visiting St. Procopius Abbey's Benedictine Priory in Chaiyi in 1967, Father Joseph became interested in monastic life. He began a process of discernment with St. Procopius that brought him to the United States and to the profession of monastic vows on February 28, 1970. Even before that date, he had been appointed treasurer of St. Procopius College, a position he held until 1984. He then spent three years as associate pastor of St. Mary Nativity Parish, in Joliet, Illinois. In 1988, he began four years of managing the finances of Benet Academy. From 1992 onwards, Father Joseph devoted himself to pastoral activity that included Mass and confessions at nearby Loretto Convent, Sacred Heart Monastery, St. Patrick's Residence, and wherever else there was a need. His "weekend assistance" at St. John the Apostle Parish in Villa Park included sharing his financial expertise and helping in a variety of ways throughout the week. The enthusiasm with which the parish, Father Joseph's family, and many others joined to celebrate his golden jubilee of ordination in 2007, and his diamond jubilee ten years later, attested to the affection felt by those to whom he ministered. At the monastery, Father Joseph, whose good health continued well past his ninetieth birthday, continued to be a genial and welcome presence at the pinochle table and the Council of Seniors. His thoughtful homilies were also appreciated. He had what for a 98-year-old was the rare pleasure of being visited by his older brother, George, last May. The next month, weakness in his legs led to his entry into St. Patrick's. Please remember Father Joseph in your prayers.

Reception of the body and Vigil will be at St. Procopius Abbey at 7pm on Friday, August 22. Funeral Mass will be at St. Procopius Abbey at 10:30am on Saturday, August 23.

Professed a monk on February 28, 1970

Ordained a priest on March 18, 1957