Legacy Leader: Bishop William M. Joensen
“The work of Catholic Charities is inspired by Jesus and the call of the Gospel to bless those who are poor and to do so not from a point of condescension or superiority but from a sense that charity is not just a ‘hand out’; rather, it is intent on the holistic good of the other,” said Bishop Joensen.
Why I Lead
Bishop William M. Joensen was ordained the tenth Bishop of the Diocese of Des Moines in 2019. As the current Bishop and chairman of the Catholic Charities Board of Directors, he has helped advance the mission of the organization while fostering a time of growth and expansion.
Before coming to the Diocese of Des Moines, Bishop Joensen served in a variety of roles at Loras College in Dubuque, including philosophy teacher, spiritual director at St. Pius X Seminary, and dean of campus spiritual life. When it was announced he was becoming Bishop, he immediately began connecting with the different ministries within the diocese, including Catholic Charities.
“Bishop Pates did a great job coordinating engagements for me with all the diocesan organizations and outreach entities, even before I was ordained,” said Bishop Joensen. “Through this, the Catholic Charities team and I were able to sit down together and have conversations.”
He remembers being particularly struck by the Catholic Charities’ Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault program, located in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
“Given my past experience of organizations in other dioceses, I was not aware that this was a ministry that Catholic Charities performed,” said Bishop Joensen. “That meeting left a very vivid impression on me.”
His introduction to Catholic Charities continued with a night at the Catholic Charities’ Emergency Family Shelter, which took place the day he was introduced to the diocese as the next Bishop. He joined shelter guests for dinner and fellowship along with Bishop Emeritus, Richard E. Pates, his predecessor, and Catholic Charities Executive Director, Barbara Q. Decker.
“It was a real practical experience of being where Jesus would be; I was able to see the face of Christ in those who were looking for a place to lay their head and call home,” said Bishop Joensen.
Serving as Bishop of a diocese is not an easy task but a great calling. Bishop Joensen shared he is honored and privileged to shepherd the people of the Diocese of Des Moines. He is grateful to be a successor of the apostles charged to spread the message of the Gospel. He also shared how he sees the Gospel message united in the work Catholic Charities does to love and serve those in need with dignity and respect.
“I think Catholic Charities opens the skylight, if you will, that it is possible for us to be good for each other,” said Bishop Joensen. “In part, it is by meeting basic life needs we all have but also it is about allowing for an encounter of love.”
“Pope Francis says in Fratelli Tutti, ‘Every encounter we have has the potential to transform not only the people we are trying to love and support but to transform ourselves. By God’s intent, we are tied to each other and we come to know ourselves more through our relationships with others,’” said Bishop Joensen.
Since his ordination, Bishop Joensen has helped Catholic Charities navigate a new period of growth. His leadership and support allows the organization to meet the new needs that are currently arising within the community.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the Diocese of Des Moines, Catholic Charities was able to adapt to safely serve those in need across all program areas. The Catholic Charities’ Counseling program began offering telehealth services to better address the growing need for therapy and mental health resources. The Catholic Charities’ Refugee Services team has doubled in size within the last few years and added post-resettlement services to better help clients succeed. The Catholic Charities’ Food Pantry is serving a record-breaking number of clients and the Catholic Charities’ Emergency Family Shelter is looking at new ways to better serve families experiencing homelessness. The Catholic Charities’ Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault program has increased its outreach and advocacy efforts while implementing more bi-lingual and bi-cultural services for survivors.
“Catholic Charities is not an occasion for a series of one-off exchanges but is about cultivating deeper relationships that can be sustained beyond the practical needs people present,” said Bishop Joensen.
He encourages others to learn more about the immense good Catholic Charities does for our neighbors in need and to get involved with the organization.
“Catholic Charities provides a conduit for which people who are moved by faith can do good for one another,” said Bishop Joensen. “The work of Catholic Charities is inspired by Jesus and the call of the Gospel to bless those who are poor and to do so not from a point of condescension or superiority but from a sense that charity is not just a ‘hand out’; rather, it is intent on the holistic good of the other.”
Founded in 1924, Catholic Charities is currently celebrating 100 years of providing care and compassion to the people of central and southwest Iowa. As the organization looks to the future, Bishop Joensen hopes it continues to seek out and address the ever-changing needs of the community as well as look at ways to better serve rural communities within the diocese.
“I hope that we can be bold and prophetic in looking around and seeing what might God be asking of us; may we be ready to take those leaps of faith to go into partially or uncharted territory,” said Bishop Joensen.
For more information on how you can get involved and support the mission at Catholic Charities, contact Director of Development and Marketing, Bobbi Jo Smith at 515-237-5064 or bsmith@catholiccharitiesdm.org.
