Monsignor Joseph D Woods, the oldest of a family of eight, was born in Craigville, New Brunswick, December 12, 1920, to the late Ambrose Joseph Woods and Mary Agnes Desmond.

Monsignor Woods received his early education in the local school house which was built in the summer of 1926, the year that he started to school. He received his high school and college education at St. Thomas University in Chatham, New Brunswick. He entered Holy Heart Seminary in Halifax, Nova Scoria in September 1943 for his theological studies and was ordained at Holy Heart Seminary on June 15 1947 by Arch Bishop John McNally of Halifax, N.S..

His First assignment, from June until September of that same year was in his home parish, St. Patrick's in Nelson-Miramichi, New Brunswick. Successive assignments were to St. Micheal's Parish, Chatham from 1947 - 52; St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Campbellton, 1952- 62. After interim postings to the Cathedral in Saint John and to St. Dunstan's in Fredericton, he was appointed Pastor of his first parish at St. Raphael's, Blackville, N.B. from 1963 - 69. From there he was appointed Parish Priest at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Saint John, N.B. from 1969 - 80; then at St. Dunstan's Parish, Fredericton, N.B. from 1980 - 89; and at St. Bridget's Parish, Renous, N.B. from 1989 until the present.

The parishioners of St. Bridget's and Our Lady of Good Counsel observed Monsignor Wood's 60' Anniversary with a Mass of Thanksgiving on Wednesday June 20th and a private and public reception that was attended by the newly installed Bishop of Saint John, Most Reverend Robert Harris, many members of the Clery, Parishioners, Fr. Woods' Family, and Friends from around the province.