Father Joseph Bradley, former president of Serra High School, died peacefully Tuesday surrounded by family and friends, according to the school.
Father Joe graduated from the school in 1973 and was a beloved member of Serra High School, where, during his 30-plus years as a priest he served as a teacher, campus ministry chaplain, football chaplain and school president. He also received the 2004 Junípero Serra Award. In 2022, Father Joe was Serra’s Fund a Dream keynote speaker, according to a press release.
Over the years, Father Joe enjoyed being a member of the Serra Campus Ministry Team, leading Kairos retreats and being an advocate for social justice issues.
As Serra’s football chaplain, Father Joe was known as the one and only “Spiritual Warrior.” He considered chapel to be a sacred space to enhance the spiritual side of each individual athlete. He believed it was paramount that a Padre team honed a humble respect for one another and their opponents, and was quoted as saying, “To me, a Padre is a person who is humble before the Lord and respectfully seeks to share Jesus’ unselfish love and justice with the greater community, especially those most in need. We deeply and carefully consider the words of Mother Teresa, as we find our path in this world: ‘God did not create us to be successful, but to be faithful.’”
“His dedication to our students, faculty and staff has left a lasting impact, and his spirit will continue to inspire us,” according to the press release. “Let us keep Father Joe in our prayers, and may his soul rest in peace. We extend our deepest condolences to his family and all those who were touched by his presence.”
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
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PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
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