Fr. Joseph Ferrara was born in Philadelphia, Pa., on July 11, 1951, to Leonard Sr. and Dorothy Hutton Ferrara. The second of five children, Fr. Joe attended Annunciation Grammar School in Philadelphia for first and second grade until his family moved to Pine Hill, New Jersey. After one year in public school because Pine Hill did not have a Catholic School, he was bused to Camden to complete his grammar school years.

Fr. Joe, former resident of Pine Hill, New Jersey, graduated from Sacred Heart Grammar School in Camden, New Jersey in June of 1965. He attended Camden Catholic High School and graduated in June of 1969. He attended Siena College for his first two years of college and then was transferred to Saint Francis College/Seminary for his final two years of college where he received a B.A. in Philosophy. Fr. Ferrara is a graduate of St. Francis Seminary, Loretto, Pa., where he obtained his M.Div. in theology and was ordained a transitional deacon in 1976.

Reverend Joseph Raymond Ferrara was ordained a priest on May 20, 1977 at St. Bridget RC Church, Glassboro, by Most Reverend George H. Guilfoyle, D.D., Bishop of Camden.

Father Ferrara's assignments include: Associate Pastor at St. Vincent Pallotti, Haddon Township in 1977. In 1979 he entered the teaching ministry and was assigned a Resident at St. Michael in Atlantic City, 1979, St. Cecilia, Pennsauken, 1982, St. Edward, Pine Hill, 1983, St. Joan of Arc, Camden, 1986, St. Joseph, Woodstown, 1992, St. Martin de Porres, Hammonton, 1997; while he worked in the high school teaching ministry. Fr. Joe taught religion at Holy Spirit High School, Absecon in 1979-1982; Paul VI High School in 1982-1992; where he also served as chairman of the Religious Education department in 1985 until 1992; St. James High School, Carney's Point, where he served as Vice Principal for Academics and Senior Theology Teacher in 1992-1997; St. Joseph High School, Hammonton, where he served as Vice_Principal for Academics and Senior Theology teacher in 1997. In 1998 he became an Associate Pastor once again at Holy Family Parish, Washington Township.

Fr. Joe has served the Diocese in many areas: as Chairman of the Jubilee Committee for the year 2000, and a member of the Priest's Personnel Board from 1996-1999; and from 2002 -2005. He was instrumental in early stages of the Master Catechist program, teaching in Absecon in 1979, and continuing to be a Master catechist throughout his priesthood. He was on the ground floor of the Extra-Ordinary Ministers of the Eucharist program, installing the first class at St. Vincent Pallotti in 1977. He was part of the "Liturgical Planning Group" during the earlier days of the Emmaus program, later to become of Presbyteral Convocation.

Fr. Joe Ferrara was assigned as the founding Pastor to Blessed Katharine Drexel Parish (later to be known as Saint) in Egg Harbor Township on June 20, 2000.  Fr. Joe was pastor of St. Katharine Drexel Parish until Dec. 10, 2004.  He was offered and accepted the position of Vicar of Clergy.   Fr. John Vignone is now the current pastor at St. Katharine Drexel.