“Live Jesus”

Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales’ motto

Father Joseph Mullakkara is a Missionary of St. Francis de Sales, the saint who preached that all people, especially including ordinary lay people, are called to holiness.

Born and brought up in the state of Kerala, India, Father Joseph’s vocation to the priesthood was inspired by an uncle who was a Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales priest. There were 11 priests in his extended family.

Ordained Aug. 2, 1975, Father Joseph served in several different churches in India. He also taught and was procurator of a seminary of his congregation.

Coming about 9,000 miles to the Atlanta Archdiocese in 1990, Father Joseph joined American Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales. The congregation started two metro Atlanta parishes, St. Patrick and St. Lawrence. Father Joseph has served at both and at the Cathedral of Christ the King. He currently serves at St. Benedict Church, Johns Creek.

He said that being a missionary priest is a blessing.

“To be a missionary to the world, to go out of one’s own place to go to another, that is a great gift of vocation,” he said.

It is part of the spirituality of the order to seek and discern the presence and goodness of God in the diversity and goodness of people to whom they minister, he said. This spirituality supports and fosters “the innate God-given dignity of each person and that all are able to live a happy, healthy and holy life.”

Father Joseph has been the spiritual advisor to the Atlanta chapter of Magnificat for over 15 years. He also fosters a lay group studying the spirituality of St. Francis de Sales, which meets at St. Lawrence Church, Lawrenceville.