Most Rev. Lawrence E. Brandt, J.C.D., Bishop of Greensburg,ordained Brother Joseph M. Adams, O.S.B., to the priesthood Saturday, May 16, 2009, in the Archabbey Basilica.

Brother Joseph was born on December 12, 1964 in Silver Spring, Maryland. He is a son of Paul V. and Rita A. Adams of Lusby, Maryland. He has two brothers, Paul L. Adams of Chapel Hill, North Carolina and David T. Adams of Gaithersburg, Maryland; and two sisters, Julie M. Gonzales of Dale City, Virginia and Jennifer M. Adams of Lusby, Maryland.

He attended St. Catherine Laboure Parochial School in Wheaton, Maryland and is a 1982 graduate of Wheaton High School. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in history from Saint Vincent College in 2001. He began studies at Saint Vincent Seminary in 2005 and received the master of divinity degree in 2009. He made simple profession of vows July 10, 1997 at Saint Vincent Archabbey Basilica, and solemn profession of vows on July 11, 2000. He was ordained to the diaconate on August 9, 2008, and to the priesthood on May 16, 2009, by Most Rev. Lawrence E. Brandt, Bishop of Greensburg, in the Archabbey Basilica.

He has served as miller at the Saint Vincent Gristmill, socius of novices (through 2000), and was captain of the Saint Vincent Fire Department until his appointment as fire chief in 2001. He served as chief until 2005, when he became assistant chief. In 2000 he was named a dorm moderator for Saint Vincent College and assistant director of vocations (2001-2002). In 2001-2002 he served as building manager of the Saint Vincent Gristmill. In 2002 he began emergency medical technician and licensed practical nurse training at Bowman Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas. In 2003 he began studies in facilities management and electronics at Triangle Tech, Pittsburgh.

From 2004 to 2008, he served as electrician’s assistant in Facilities Management at Saint Vincent College.