Bring Father Joe back!

Father Joe inspired faculty, staff, and students at RCS with his energetic love of Jesus, people, faith, family, community, and Catholic Church! He also led a group of students to Rome, our son included, creating a very spiritual experience for them which they treasure!

We very much miss our pastor and want him to return to us. Please allow Father Joe to return to Blessed Sacrament.

So sad to hear this.

I'm very disappointed with how the church has handled this issue via the media. This should've been kept quiet until the investigation was completed. This approach unfortunately convicted Father Metzger in the court of public opinion.

Father Joe Metzger has been a mentor to me since I originally began attending Blessed Sacrament Church around the age of ten or so. I recall that when I first joined this church, I had not been accustomed to a priest showing such interest in all of the members of his parish. When we first spoke, I told Father a pseudonym instead of giving him my actual name, for I thought if I could just tell him something random so that he would proceed to leave me be like previous Catholic priests who I interacted with throughout my life. In many instances, I resented the ways in which I was expected to devote time to the church each week even though I had no desire to do so. Even though I would much rather play sports or stay in bed, I have found more and more as I have grown older that I am called to the faith. Father Joe called me out on my false name, and ever since we have been steadfast friends. There is something about Father Joe’s overall personality and old school style that I have always found very refreshing as a young man who has attended church at Blessed Sacrament just about every Sunday for as long as I can recall. To say that Father Joe is a great priest would be an understatement. Father Joe not only has countless stories in his arsenal all about the ways in which he has helped people throughout his many years as a priest, but he also has a way of motivating young people to do good deeds. Without Father Joe’s encouragement, I would not have gone on a mission trip to Lancaster, Pennsylvania during which I worked with carpentry along with members of our youth group to build handicapped ramps for disadvantaged individuals living in the area. This was an extremely important experience for me, as I learned all about the importance of gratitude in addition to the obligation of helping others. Through participating in this experience, I developed friendships with people from Blessed Sacrament which remain intact to this day. Furthermore, after originally being rejected f

Our thoughts and prayers are with Father Joe. Our daughters have altar served with him for many years and he has been a true mentor of faith to them. Please bring him back.

Please bring Father Joe back! My sister and I have known and alter served with him for many years now. His enthusiasm for spreading the Word of God is inspiring and he is the main reason my family has stayed at Blessed Sacrament even after moving 40 minutes away to Virginia Beach. It is his charisma and enthusiasm for the parish and in guiding others in faith that has made me grow even closer to the Church and Catholicism as a whole. As a teenager who has been so positively influenced by him it is now hard to even think about attending mass without seeing him serving it.

He is not only the best priests I have ever met, he is a great and honest person. He is the only priest I have ever spoken to and truly cared about his opinion. I dont trust anyone else with my problems.

Father Joe Metzger has been a mentor to me since I originally began attending Blessed Sacrament Church around the age of ten or so. I recall that when I first joined this church, I had not been accustomed to a priest showing such interest in all of the members of his parish. When we first spoke, I told Father a pseudonym instead of giving him my actual name, for I thought if I could just tell him something random that he would proceed to leave me be like previous Catholic priests who I interacted with throughout my life as a cradle Catholic. In many instances, I resented the ways in which I was expected to devote time to the church each week even though I had no desire to do so. Even though I would much rather play sports or stay in bed. Father Joe called me out on my false name, and ever since we have been steadfast friends. There is something about Father Joe’s overall personality and old school style that I have always found very refreshing as a young man who has attended church at Blessed Sacrament just about every Sunday throughout my years as an adolescent and as a young man. To say that Father Joe is a great priest would be an understatement. Father Joe not only has countless stories in his arsenal all about the ways in which he has helped people throughout his many years as a priest, but he also has a way of motivating young people to do good deeds. Without Father Joe’s encouragement, I would not have gone on a mission trip to Lancaster, Pennsylvania during which I work with carpentry along with members of our youth group in addition to some strangers to build handicapped ramps for disadvantaged individuals living in the area. This was an extremely important experience for me, as I learned all about the importance of gratitude in addition to helping others. Through participating in this experience, I developed friendships with people from my age group at Blessed Sacrament which remain intact to this day. Furthermore, after originally being rejected from the

Father Joe Metzger has been a mentor to me since I originally began attending Blessed Sacrament Church around the age of ten or so. I recall that when I first joined this church, I had not been accustomed to a priest showing such interest in all of the members of his parish. When we first spoke, I told Father a pseudonym instead of giving him my actual name, for I thought if I could just tell him something random that he would proceed to leave me be like previous Catholic priests who I interacted with throughout my life as a cradle Catholic. In many instances, I resented the ways in which I was expected to devote time to the church each week even though I had no desire to do so. Even though I would much rather play sports or stay in bed. Father Joe called me out on my false name, and ever since we have been steadfast friends. There is something about Father Joe’s overall personality and old school style that I have always found very refreshing as a young man who has attended church at Blessed Sacrament just about every Sunday throughout my years as an adolescent and as a young man. To say that Father Joe is a great priest would be an understatement. Father Joe not only has countless stories in his arsenal all about the ways in which he has helped people throughout his many years as a priest, but he also has a way of motivating young people to do good deeds. Without Father Joe’s encouragement, I would not have gone on a mission trip to Lancaster, Pennsylvania during which I work with carpentry along with members of our youth group in addition to some strangers to build handicapped ramps for disadvantaged individuals living in the area. This was an extremely important experience for me, as I learned all about the importance of gratitude in addition to helping others. Through participating in this experience, I developed friendships with people from my age group at Blessed Sacrament which remain intact to this day. Furthermore, after originally being rejected from the

Please bring Father Joe back to Blessed Sacrament. We became members of the Parish because of Father Joe and look forward to having him back!

We have a right to know the true story about Father Joe! The church needs to stop sweeping these sensitive situations under the rug.

Father Joseph Metzger's absence from Blessed Sacrament Church is a negative impact on the members of our parish. He is a vital member of the parish and should be returned to us without further delay.

God Bless Fr Joe

We became parishioners of Blessed Sacrament because of Father Joe. He was always willing to help my family, and for that we will forever be grateful. Please bring Father Joe back to church.

Having been part of thirteen different parishes in my adult life I can say unequivocally that I have never known a pastor or priest who has as great a respect for the youth of his parish as has Fr. Joe Metzger. He has never given a homily in which he has not included or addressed children, teens, or young adults in his words and message. And the youth of Blessed Sacrament in turn love and respect Fr. Joe. On that Sunday in which he did not process down the aisle my grandsons were concerned, asking about and for him. Fr. Joe understands that these children are the future of our church. Our church, the Catholic Church needs Fr. Joe and more priests like him.

Ridiculous punishment for an outstanding priest. Why is Father Joe not allowed to celebrate mass and share in the Holy Eucharist with his Blessed Sacrment family? Because Father Joe was absent from all of our Christmas services I decided not to attend. I feel that the Bishop has mishandled this from the get go. Father Joe needs to return or the church will be empty.

I have reached out to the Bishops office a number of times. I am hopeful for a positive resolution ASAP.

Please bring Father Joe back!

Father Joe's absence is significantly impacting many of Blessed Sacrament's parishioners trust in the Diocese of Richmond/Catholic Church leadership. He is a good priest and the decision to return him should not be drawn out this way.