Is there such a thing as a hustler priest? Yes! Father Joe Carroll earned that label early in his career-and it stuck. Always a wheeler and dealer, starting from his childhood in the Bronx, his ability to get things done served him well in developing what's now called Father Joe's Villages in San Diego, California. This book of stories from Father Joe's interesting life, shared in his voice, is heart-warming and heart-wrenching while also head-shaking and hilarious. From his antics as a youth and a seminarian to breaking new ground and crossing the lines when necessary to get things done to support neighbors in need experiencing homelessness, you'll come to understand that "hustler" does suit Father Joe well. And he wouldn't have had it any other way.

Three Book Options
Father Joe: Life Stories of a Hustler Priest is available in print paperback, Kindle digital ebook, and Audible audio book. The Audible version includes Father Joe introducing each story of the book. A portion of the proceeds will support children in need.

About Father Joe

Reverend Monsignor Joseph Carroll (April 12, 1941 - July 10, 2021), affectionately known as "Father Joe" to most people, grew up in the Bronx in a two-bedroom apartment with his parents and seven siblings. From childhood, he was entrepreneurially minded, earning money by doing various jobs in his neighborhood, including being a Shabbos Goy for his Jewish neighbors. In his early 20s, he decided to move across the country to Southern California and a year later entered the seminary. Father Joe was ordained as a Catholic priest in 1974 and was a popular parish priest until 1982, when he was assigned to take over San Diego's St. Vincent de Paul Center (now known as Father Joe's Villages).

Tasked to build a homeless shelter on an empty block in downtown San Diego, Father Joe's persistence, charisma and gregarious personality - along with a fearlessness of the unknown - resulted in developing a revolutionary approach to providing housing and services for people experiencing homelessness. Father Joe's idea, which he boldly shared on national television while being interviewed by 60 Minutes, became reality in 1987 with the opening of the first newly constructed building - St. Vincent de Paul Joan Kroc Center. Decades of development followed, as well as countless awards and international recognition for Father Joe, who became known as the "hustler priest" after seeking money to help neighbors in need on television.

Father Joe retired in 2011 yet he continued to be dedicated to serving the greater San Diego community, which benefited greatly from his unique mindset of an entrepreneur, heart of a servant and willingness to do whatever it takes to create results. Also during retirement he continued his lifelong support of the Boy Scouts and attended scouting events as much as possible.

For the last two years of his life, Father Joe joyfully worked with author Kathryn Cloward to craft his memoir. He was thrilled to celebrate his 80th birthday on April 12, 2021 with the release of Father Joe: Life Stories of a Hustler Priest, which he proudly endorsed. He was also delighted to be portrayed as an illustrated character in Father Joe's Six Golden Seeds, a Kathryn the Grape Let's Read Together Series special edition book.

Father Joe passed away on July 10, 2021. His legacy of service, compassion, and love lives on in the countless lives he impacted. If you desire to know more about Father Joe's caring heart and entrepreneurial mindset, Father Joe: Life Stories of a Hustler Priest is the only published book about his life he authorized.