Josh Brooks, a young man from Delaware County, Pennsylvania, has taken an extraordinary journey—from aspiring basketball star to future Catholic priest. His life story is a testament to the power of faith, perseverance, and the pursuit of deeper meaning beyond worldly success.
As a teenager, Brooks dreamed of becoming the next LeBron James. Though he was passionate about sports, a pivotal moment came when he failed to make his high school basketball team. This setback turned out to be a turning point in his life. Enrolled in Monsignor Bonner and Archbishop Prendergast High School, he encountered Catholic theology courses that deeply influenced him. Raised in the Baptist faith, Brooks began asking questions about Catholicism and found himself drawn to its teachings, traditions, and sense of spiritual depth.
His journey into the Catholic faith continued through high school, culminating in his formal conversion. However, it wasn’t just intellectual curiosity that led him to Catholicism. Brooks experienced a profound spiritual awakening in a school chapel. Facing the heartbreak of a failed relationship and struggling with uncertainty about his future, he found solace and direction while praying before a crucifix. In that moment of vulnerability, he felt an overwhelming sense of God’s love and a clear call to serve.
Now in his third year of seminary formation at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Brooks has fully embraced his vocation. Seminary life, he says, has given him a brotherhood and purpose he never knew he needed. His days are filled with prayer, study, community service, and preparing for the priesthood.
Although his parents are not Catholic, they have been supportive of his decision. His mother attends Mass with him, and his father encouraged him to follow the path he believes God has set for him. Brooks hopes and prays that his parents may one day join him in the Catholic faith.
Josh’s story has already touched many, particularly young people who are searching for something more meaningful in life. He acknowledges that the Catholic Church is not without flaws but emphasizes that it offers a deep, authentic experience of God’s love—something that young hearts desperately seek today.
From a sports court to the seminary, Josh Brooks' life is a living witness to how God can redirect even the most ambitious dreams into a life of service, love, and lasting joy. He is now preparing to serve others as a Catholic priest, guided by the same divine voice that called him in his youth.