Lenten Revival 2024

Sidney O. Speaks is a native of Baltimore, MD, and the oldest of nine brothers and sisters, from the beautiful union of the late Sidney Oscar and Lillie Speaks, who were married for twenty-eight years until his father’s death. At the age of sixteen, Sidney felt that the Lord was calling him to serve as a priest. Soon after, he decided to begin priestly formation for the Josephite Fathers and Brothers, a religious community dedicated to the evangelization of African-Americans (since 1873). After completing college studies at Xavier University in 1994, and obtaining a Masters of Divinity degree in Washington, DC, Sidney was ordained a Josephite priest on December 4, 1999. He served as parochial vicar in both Beaumont, TX and Washington, DC, where he realized even more his love of youth and young adult ministry. Since ordination, Fr. Speaks has spoken in over 25 dioceses throughout the nation and led numerous Catholic workshops.  However, in 2008, Fr. Speaks departed the priesthood, thinking he was to find “greener pastures” elsewhere. Yet, through the miraculous grace of God, and the powerful intercession of the Blessed Mother, he was able to recognize the reality of his call from God to priesthood.  After reaching out to Archbishop Aymond, it was in February 2016, the archdiocese of New Orleans invited Fr. Speaks to minister as a parish priest, as he seeks to be incardinated into the archdiocese. He immediately reported to St. Matthew the Apostle Church, where he served as parochial vicar for three years. On July 1, 2019, Fr. Speaks, for the first time in his priesthood, was appointed Pastor of St. Joseph the Worker Church, where he gets the opportunity to serve over 700 families of a great faith community in Marrero of the archdiocese of New Orleans!