Fr. Joseph M. Visperas is the eldest of five children who were all raised by their loving parents in Pangasinan, Philippines.  He was born on August 27, 1961.  After completing his elementary studies at Mangaldan Central School, he entered the Mary Help of Christians Minor Seminary in Binmaley, Pangasinan through the encouragement of his mother, and spent four years of formation.  He continued his seminary formation at the San Pablo Regional College Seminary in Baguio City for another four years and graduated with a BA in Philosophy and minor in Psychology, then followed by the last four and a half years at the Immaculate Conception School of Theology in Vigan, Ilocos Sur where he obtained another Bachelor's degree in Sacred Theology before his ordination.

As he was preparing to go to Rome for further studies in Liturgy, he was assigned by his Archbishop, Most Rev. Federico Limon, as his private secretary following his ordination on December 22, 1986.  While serving in that position for 3 years, he was also appointed as vice-chancellor and chairman of several archdiocesan commissions, namely, liturgy, mission and youth.  He also taught at the Mary Help of Christians College Seminary in Dagupan City before he was assigned as a Parochial Vicar in Calasiao, Pangasinan.  Fr. Joseph then moved to Metro Manila to take up studies in architecture at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City.  He stayed in Metro Manila for eight years and served in two different parishes in Quezon City.  In 2000, he came to the United States upon the invitation of St. Mary's Church in Pamdale, California, and assisted in that parish.  He was warmly welcomed and well liked by the people and they encouraged him to apply for incardination in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.  Finding his ministry in the US fulfilling and challenging, he applied for and commenced his incardination process.  Meanwhile, he was also assigned as associate pastor of three other different parishes in the archdiocese of Los Angeles, California, namely, St. Anthony parish in Oxnard, Beatitudes of the Lord parish and St. Paul of the Cross parish both in La Mirada.  His incardination was finally granted in 2007.  He is now appointed and is serving as Pastor at St. Timothy Catholic Church.