“I spend a lot of time listening,” said Father Joe, who made his first foray into the safety forces ministry in 2008 with the Stow police during his first assignment after ordination at Holy Family Parish in Stow.

It wasn’t on Father Joe’s radar, but he was approached by the sergeant in charge of chaplaincy who asked if he’d be interested in serving in the volunteer position. He agreed and spent the next two years in that role before being assigned to St. Joseph Parish in Strongsville, where he served as pastor until 2023, when he was named diocesan vicar for clergy and religious. Last year, he also became pastor of the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist.

“But I asked if I could continue as the volunteer chaplain for the Strongsville safety forces,” he said, noting the rapport he had built with the men and women over the years. When needed, he also ministers to those in the city jail.

Father Joe began working with the roughly 70 men and women on the Strongsville police force and about 60 firefighters in June 2015, after a conversation with the safety director, who happened to be a parishioner. “Since I grew up in the city, he asked if I’d be interested in giving back to my hometown.

I said, ‘Sure.’”

Strongsville, with a population of 45,000, is a sprawling city with the largest suburban land mass outside of Cleveland. Father Joe said he spends a lot of time just talking with the safety forces personnel — or listening. He also has done ride-alongs with them.

“I try to spend a four-hour block riding with a police officer,” he said, noting it allows him to develop a camaraderie with the officer. With the Fire Department, Father Joe spends time at one of the city’s four fire stations. He can ride along on a specific apparatus or medical unit. “I kind of become the fourth person,” he added.

“I try to schedule my time with the Fire Department around dinner time,” he said, noting the firefighters plan their own meals, do the grocery shopping and cook. “They eat well,” he quipped. And no matter how much he tries to chip in, “They won’t let me,” he said, noting they appreciate his ministry.

But the work can be demanding, Father Joe said. “You’re on call — and can get a call literally at any time.” He said one difficult call came early on a hot Sunday morning a few years ago when two young men were killed in a crash. He went to the scene to try and help.

“Then I went back to the parish for 8 a.m. Mass. After that,

I was asked to help notify the parents about the deaths,” he said. “It’s best to do that in person.” However, one victim’s parents were traveling and had to be informed by phone, which was painful, he recalled.

Another time, he was called to a fatal crash involving the teenage daughter of a parishioner. “It’s never easy,” he said.

Being present with the safety forces allows them to be relaxed around him. “They’re comfortable calling or texting  me, and sometimes, they will ask if they can talk about something.” They even have nicknames for him. “They call me Padre, Father Joe and even FJ,” he quipped.

Father Joe said he had no family members involved in emergency services, although a close friend is a firefighter. He said they’re like brothers and his role as a chaplain has strengthened the relationship with the family. He’s even the godfather to one of their sons.

“Camaraderie is the best part of the job,” he said, adding, “I’ve grown in my appreciation of the work that the emergency services personnel do.”