Justin Ward

This article is about the Catholic priest for other see Justin Ward (disambiguation)

The Very Reverend Justin L. Ward is a Roman Catholic priest of the Diocese of Birmingham and pastor of St Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church. He first moved to Birmingham from Burlington, North Carolina, to attend Samford University where he earned the bachelor of music and master of music in organ performance.

After serving on the music staff of a number of Birmingham churches, including All Saints' Episcopal Church, St Matthew's Anglican Church, and South Highland Presbyterian Church, he moved to Shreveport, Louisiana, where he served as the director of sacred music at the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans.

Reared in a Baptist church, he was baptized in the Roman Catholic Church after graduating from Samford and studied for the priesthood. He was ordained by Bishop Robert Baker on June 1, 2019, at the Cathedral of St. Paul and was appointed vicar of sacred liturgy for the diocese. He now also serves as episcopal master of ceremonies.

Prior to becoming pastor of St. Mark's in July 2023, he served as pastor of St. Leo the Great in Demopolis and later as parochial vicar at Our Lady of Sorrows in Homewood.

References

• Garrison, Greg (May 31, 2019) "Samford music graduate to be ordained a Catholic priest" The Birmingham News