Joseph Martin Messina - Obituary

n Thursday, September 20, 2018, at home, Joseph Martin Messina, Sr., went to “be with the Lord.” Joseph was born on October 31, 1931, in Port Arthur, Texas, to Josephine Costanza and John Messina. He graduated from Bishop Byrne High School in 1950. In 2nd grade, Joseph felt a calling to serve others. After his high school graduation, he began his studies to become a Josephite priest. He received degrees from St. Michael’s College (BA) and Columbia University (MA) and continued his studies at St. Joseph Seminary in Washington, DC. He was ordained as a priest in 1960 and was assigned to work at St. Augustine High School in New Orleans, LA. While in New Orleans, LA, Joseph was an active worker with the Urban League, founding a Jr. Urban League. He headed several active adult and boys’ organizations, which conducted many programs with the poor. Joseph organized and supervised four Neighborhood Youth Corps programs and supported welfare, remedial reading, voting and other programs in the community. Though he desired to continue a life of service, Joseph had some significant philosophical differences with the Church that prompted him to leave the priesthood. In August 1968, Joseph married Regina I. Biays. He first worked for the District of Columbia Department of Social Services (Child Welfare), and then began work for DC Public Schools, where he was a guidance counselor at Randall Jr. High and then at Roper Jr. High for twenty-five years. He and Regina had two children, Felicia and Joseph, Jr. Joseph was a founding member of the Special Religious Education Program (SPRED) at St. Philips, which served children and young adults with disabilities. He was an active member of Holy Family Parish, Hillcrest Heights, MD. He continued to be involved with these organizations long after his retirement. He is survived by his daughter, Felicia Messina-D'Haiti, son-in-law, Conrad D’Haiti; grandchildren, Vincent, Victoria, Matthew and Michael Joseph; many cousins, nieces, nephews, relative and friends. Relatives and friends are invited to Joseph's Life Celebration on Saturday, September 29, 2018 at Holy Family Catholic Church, 2210 Calloway St., Hillcrest Heights, MD 20748 from 11 a.m. until the time of Mass of Christian Burial at 12 p.m. Interment Resurrection Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations to Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Washington appreciated.