Rev. James Martin On His Journey to Becoming a Priest, and the Catholic Church Today

Father Jim Martin’s new memoir, Work in Progress: Confessions of a Bus Boy, Dishwasher, Caddy, Usher, Factory Worker, Bank Teller, Corporate Tool, and Priest, includes plenty of funny stories that are also deeply human, full of honesty and hope. Jim’s always a wonderful guest, and this week he joins host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush to walk us through some of the memorable moments in this book.

The book opens with stories of summer jobs ranging from dishwasher to factory worker, all while weaving in the idea that God works even in the most mundane places. This is an invaluable reminder that we’re all on a spiritual journey, whether we realize it or not. And the path to faith isn’t a straight line. It’s messy, ongoing, and filled with grace. Honesty is what makes his memoir resonate. It invites us to reflect: where are we still "works in progress"?

Father Jim also takes us through the tumultuous history of America—recalling moments like the Bicentennial, the moon landing, and the Nixon resignation—and connects it to our current time. We’re living in a moment that will surely be remembered as monumental, and Jim’s reflections on truth, history, and the ways we forget or erase it feel especially urgent. Lies and nostalgia can be dangerous when they hide the real stories, especially the stories of marginalized communities.

What’s powerful is how Jim emphasizes that the gospel isn’t about nostalgia or idealized versions of the past; it’s about standing with those on the margins—migrants, refugees, LGBTQ+ folks, and others dehumanized and pushed aside. His stories about engaging with those communities—meeting Pope Francis, speaking at protests, standing with migrants—are inspiring. They’re a reminder that courage isn’t absence of fear but standing with others when it’s hard.

Our lives, our nation, and our faith are all ongoing works. We’re never finished, and that’s the point. Father Jim Martin's reflection on his own moments of reckless youth, and how those stories led him closer to a calling, offers hope to anyone feeling like their journey is incomplete.

More About Father Jim

Rev. James Martin is a Jesuit priest, editor-at-large of American Magazine, consultor to the Vatican Secretariat for Communications, and the bestselling author of books including Jesus: A Pilgrimage and The Jesuit Guide to Almost Everything. His book Building a Bridge: How the Catholic Church and the LGBT Community Can Enter into Relationship of Respect, Compassion, and Sensitivity had a profound impact on many readers on either side of that divide. Father Martin has a new book out, Work in Progress: Confessions of a Bus Boy, Dishwasher, Caddy, Usher, Factory Worker, Bank Teller, Corporate Tool, and Priest.