Early Life and Education
Joseph McFadden was born in West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Thomas and Ellen (née Griffin) McFadden. His parents were Irish immigrants, and one of his sisters is a member of the Order of Immaculate Heart of Mary. He received his early education at the parochial school of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Overbrook, and attended St. Thomas More High School for Boys in Philadelphia from 1961 to 1965. At St. Thomas, he was a member of the National Honor Society, a player on the varsity basketball team, and the class valedictorian.
McFadden then attended St. Joseph's University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in politics in 1969. He played on the freshmen basketball team at St. Joseph's, and also coached at St. Thomas More High School and West Catholic Boys High School. Following his graduation from St. Joseph's, he joined the faculty of West Catholic Boys High School, where he taught social studies. In addition to his teaching duties, he coached the junior varsity basketball team and served as the school's athletic director.
In 1976, McFadden decided to study for the priesthood, a vocation he had considered "through high school and when went to college." That year he entered St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Overbrook, where he earned a Master of Divinity degree summa cum laude.
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