Joshua provides comprehensive support throughout Eden Invitation’s programs. His job is to provide critical theological, sociological, and pastoral insights to the community and support the practical implementation of programming at the Threshold and Hearth levels. Joshua graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor’s of Art in Theology.
On the Porch with Joshua
We’re more than what we do or what we’ve done– we’re unrepeatable people with unique stories to tell.
So if you have a moment, pull up a chair on our metaphorical porch here and get to know us a bit more!
How have you seen God moving in your life?
Ever since I was a child, God has continued to draw me closer to His heart. From planting the seed of faith through my family to causing it to intellectually bud in high school and relationally blossom in college, God has provided for my growth, even in the midst of life’s many storms.
For me, connecting with Eden Invitation was one of God’s great movements in my life. In 2023, he brought an amazing speaker (and EI community member) to my campus. Through this presentation, I found many answers to the questions I was pondering at the time. After I connected with this speaker, they encouraged me to connect with EI. Two weeks later, I scheduled a Story Call, and the rest is history!
Who has inspired you on this Journey to Heaven? Patron Saints, role models, cool authors?
I have many friends among the saints! St. Anthony of Padua is the saint from whom I received my middle name. Though his influence in my life was chosen first by my parents, he has been a constant intercessor for me and my many lost things.
St. Augustine of Hippo was the first saint I personally chose as a patron, given his tumultuous youth and powerful conversion. Though I first came to know him during my preparations for confirmation, he has continued to show up throughout my time in college.
St. Theresa of Calcutta appeared in my life during my last two years in college. Though she and I are still getting to know each other, I have found comfort in knowing of her persistence during great seasons of desolation.
St. Bonaventure, one of the great Franciscan theologians, was made known to me through an assigned reading. His invitation to “interrogate grace, not doctrine, desire, not understanding; the groan of praying, not the study of reading... not light, but the fire totally inflaming” continues to inspire my own study of theology and to temper whatever temptations I have towards collapsing the beauty and mystery of our faith. (quote from Pope Benedict the XVI)
The two saints Ignatius (the one from Antioch and the one from Loyola) were both made known to me towards the end of my college experience, both through reading and pilgrimage. They were both men with large emotions and lofty desires, and I hope my friendship with them will continue to shape my heart.
St. Catherine of Siena (one of our patrons) also made herself known to me towards the end of my college experience during a pilgrimage. Her ability to, by the grace of God, work so much good for the Church as a lay Dominican has inspired my own desire to pursue a life of service to the Church as a layperson.
Amongst those who are still waiting for canonization stand some of my other inspirations. Eve Tushnet’s work and writing initially helped me navigate my own experience, and later came to inspire a thesis project on the poet Dunstan Thompson, another inspiration of mine. Bernard Lonergan, S.J. a Canadian theologian who also featured heavily in said thesis, is another cool author from whom I hope to learn more.
My professors, campus ministers, and friends from Notre Dame were indispensable in guiding my own growth as a student, a servant, and a friend. Though there are too many to name here, they know who they are.
What’s a beautiful part of your job? Perhaps something that people may not see from the surface level of your job description?
I am really excited about the opportunity to combine the walk of accompaniment with the study of theology in my work! Ever since I started leaning into the possibility of serving the Church full-time, I worried about being forced to pick between the two. The combination of these two ways of viewing the world is a very exhilarating and new thing, and I look forward to the many possibilities afforded by this combination.
How can people be praying for you and your work?
I would appreciate everyone’s prayer for our community volunteers, all of whom help facilitate our Book Clubs and Hearth Group gatherings.
In addition, please pray for the Holy Spirit’s continued inspiration of my work, both in the mundane tasks of cleaning spreadsheets and troubleshooting platform issues, and in the exciting and terrifying work of research and study.
Joshua's role is funded through our generous Monthly Mission Partners (Staff MMP program). Want to join Joshua's support team? Click here to donate today, and write his name in the comment box!
Can you show us a glimpse of your experience in this mission, like videos, links, interviews, etc?
"Being a Perpetual Pilgrim | Joshua" Good Fruit Newsletter Feature August 2024
Porch Events are opportunities for people to get to know our community better. If we did a Potluck for a Porch Event, what are you bringing?
I would probably ask my mom, a tito or tita (think aunt or uncle), or my lola (think grandma) to make eggrolls or pancit, two Filipino dishes. If none of my family members were free, I would buy and bring a bunch of tamales from Delia’s, a chain from my hometown. If all else fails, I’d bring the paper plates!
Book Clubs are centered on walking together as striving Disciples with LGBTQ+ experiences, usually reading a spiritual classic or Eden Invitation blogs. BUT if you could do a Book Club with Eden Invitation people, on ANY book, which book would you choose?
In the sci-fi genre, I would lead a book club through either Ray Bradbury’s The October Country or Walter M. Miller, Jr. 's A Canticle for Leibowitz. The first option has a story called “Uncle Einar,” which I think would unironically be a great choice for an actual book club because it talks so much about vocation!
Amongst the tomes of theology, I would timidly lead a book club through one of Bernard Lonergan’s two big works: Method in Theology or Insight. To be frank, I barely understand the ten-or-so-pages I have read. Here’s to being endlessly confused together!
If you could go on a Community Weekend, a kind of “family vacation” with your Hearth Group, to ANYWHERE in the world, where would you want to go?
I would go on a Community Weekend to Assisi, the great city of St. Francis. I imagine this weekend starting with a train ride from the airport in Rome to a village one or two stops away from Assisi (perhaps Foligno or some other place). We would then do a day’s hike into the city, pray for a moment or two in one of the basilicas, then shop around the city’s many kiosks and stalls. (I once bought a wax seal from a store there!)
It’s time for Toasts! When we raise a glass to celebrate God’s Graces in our lives, what bevvy are you lifting up?
At the time of writing, I have become obsessed with a beer by August Schell Brewing Co. called Sangria. Should the world somehow be left without this sweet ambrosia, I would settle for a mule of the Moscow variety or a La Croix sparkling water.
What’s your favorite piece of EI gear?
I would either go for the Pilgrim Longing Enamel Mug or the The Unrepeatable Ones | Unisex Embroidered Sweatshirt.