The father Joseph Southwood, LC, passed away in Mexico City on Friday, January 22, 2021.

The territorial director of the Legionaries of Christ for the Mexico and Central America territory, P. Alberto Simán, LC, sent a message to the priests of the Congregation saying:

“With much pain and sadness, but with firm hope in the Lord, I inform you that a few minutes ago, P. Joseph Southwood, LC, died. He was 54 years old. He had spent three weeks in the hospital with Covid, and after testing negative, he returned to his community. A few days later, he had to be hospitalized again due to a severe lung infection as a consequence of Covid.”

At the end, he expressed gratitude for P. Joseph’s dedication: “Mission accomplished, dear P. Joseph! He has gone ahead of us to the Father’s house, surely hand in hand with Mary and laden with fruits.”

Father Joseph was born on February 23, 1966, in Illinois, United States. He entered the Legion of Christ Novitiate in Cheshire on September 15, 1985. He later studied philosophy and theology at the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum in Rome from October 1993 to September 1998.

He received the ministry of lector in 1996. In 1998, he received the ministry of acolyte, as well as the diaconal ordination, and later, at the end of the same year, the priestly ordination.

His priestly ministry was primarily initiated and carried out as a spiritual advisor in educational centers in Mexico and the United States. From 2014, he was assigned as a member of the auxiliary team of the Regnum Christi section for men, counselor, and vice superior of the apostolate house in Fuente de los Ángeles, located in the western area of Mexico City.

For those who wish to write a memory or thought about P. Joseph, a condolence book has been prepared, which can be accessed at this link.

Rest in peace!