Donald Calloway
Donald Calloway, MIC is an American author and Catholic priest in the Congregation of Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary. He is known for his conversion story and his 2020 book, Consecration to St. Joseph: The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father, which has been translated into more than 28 languages.
Background
Calloway was born on 29 June 1972 in Dearborn, Michigan. He spent his early years in West Virginia and grew up in southern California, in Los Angeles and San Diego. He has described himself as drug addicted in his teenage years and a high school dropout. He has said that he was using drugs by the age of 11 and was promiscuous.While living in Japan as a teenager, Calloway became involved with the Yakuza, the Japanese mafia, and served as a "drug runner", running drugs and money to casinos in Honshu. When he was 15 years old, Calloway was forcibly removed from the country of Japan for his criminal activity and mafia involvement.
Following his extradition back to the United States, Calloway was committed to two drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers in Pennsylvania: New Beginnings at Cove Forge and Charter Fairmont Institute. After his failed rehabilitations, he was imprisoned in Louisiana upon turning eighteen.
One night after declining to go out with friends, Calloway began to read a book about the Blessed Virgin Mary. He credits this book, as well as praying the Rosary, with changing his life, after which he converted to Roman Catholicism.
Calloway was ordained a priest on May 31, 2003 at The National Shrine of The Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. He has a B.A., M.Div., S.T.B. and a S.T.L.. He practices with the Congregation of Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary.
Calloway had led pilgrimages to Marian shrines, including sites in Poland, Mexico, Italy, Spain, and France. as wells as to the Holy Land with actor Jim Caviezel.
Career and recognition
In 2020, Calloway's authored the book Consecration to St. Joseph: The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father which sold more than one million copies worldwide. Calloway has said that his book is modeled after the Consecration to Mary of St. Louis de Montfort.Calloway also published a follow-up entitled Consecration to St. Joseph for Children and Families with co-author Scott L. Smith, Jr. in 2022.
Calloway's conversion story was made into a documentary titled The Testimony of Fr. Donald Calloway, which won an Emmy award in 2017.
A talk Calloway gave in April 2017 at Franciscan University of Steubenville, titled "The Rosary: Spiritual Sword of Our Lady", had over 2.9 million views on YouTube by October 2025.