Detroit Catholic Central High School is proud to celebrate one of its own, Fr. Joseph Naji Nannoshi ’15, who was ordained to the priesthood on July 5, 2025, at Our Lady of Chaldeans Cathedral in Southfield.

Born and raised in West Bloomfield, Fr. Joseph grew up in a faithful home where parish life was always central. As a student at Catholic Central, he was shaped by the strong brotherhood and commitment to faith that marked his four years. “At CC, the teachers always called us men,” he recalls. “That reinforcement of what it means to be a man—living with Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge—was a very big part of who I was becoming.”

From Pre-Med to Priesthood

After graduating from CC, Joseph pursued a biology degree at Wayne State University on the pre-med track. He was preparing for the MCAT when he began to feel unsettled.

“I wasn’t very happy or satisfied with that track,” he said. “I started asking myself, ‘Why do I feel this way?’ The more I thought about it, the more I realized it wasn’t about the career path—it was about the deeper life decision I needed to make.”

Seeking guidance, Joseph began meeting with a priest on campus. Those conversations led him to take his faith more seriously, and as he drew closer to God, he began to experience a peace unlike anything he had known before.

“That peace made me start thinking about serving the Lord in a particular way,” he explained. A pivotal moment came during confession, when he felt God calling him more clearly toward the priesthood. “That was the beginning of being more in tune with what God was asking of me.”

After completing his biology degree, he entered Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit in August 2019, earning a bachelor’s in philosophy in 2021 and later a Master of Divinity in May 2025.

Ordination and Ministry

Following his ordination this summer, Fr. Joseph began his first assignment as Associate Pastor at St. George Chaldean Church in Shelby Township, where he will serve for the next three years. His days are filled with parish life—daily Mass, leading Bible studies, and working with a vibrant high school youth group that gathers more than 300 teens each week.

Even outside of ministry, Fr. Joseph values time with family and friends, as well as staying active at the gym.

Lessons from CC

Looking back, Fr. Joseph credits his Catholic Central experience as a vital part of his vocation. He recalls DRIVE week, assemblies, and the unity of brotherhood as highlights of his time at CC. Just as formative, however, were the examples of dedicated teachers and priests.

“Having good priests as role models and teachers who truly cared made a huge impact,” he said. “I don’t know where I would be without them.”

He also remembers the powerful witness of his classmates during all-school confessions. “It didn’t matter where you were in your faith—when it was time for confession, we all went. That was very inspiring.”

Advice for Young Men Discerning the Priesthood

Fr. Joseph encourages any student feeling drawn to the priesthood to begin with prayer.

“If you don’t have a prayer life and if you’re not praying regularly, you cannot discern this calling with clarity. If you don’t spend time with our Lord, how can you say that you know He’s calling you? You have to pray. You have to be dedicated to prayer.”

He also reminds young men that God calls people from all walks of life.

“You don’t have to be perfect. None of us are. The Lord calls all sorts of people. If He’s placing this on your heart, He will give you what’s necessary to carry this through.”

A Shamrock Forever

Ten years after graduating, Fr. Joseph still treasures the instant brotherhood he feels whenever he meets a fellow Shamrock. His advice to current CC students is simple:

“Be willing to get out of your comfort zone. Put the phone down and spend time with the guys. Dedicate yourself to what CC has to offer, and you’ll find that sense of brotherhood and community.”