How does one man’s quest for purpose lead him through the worlds of Catholicism, Eastern spirituality, and contemplative practice?
Can the challenges of life deepen our connection to God?
With humor, humility, and wisdom, Fr. Joyce’s compelling memoir, Surprised by Grace, offers spiritual encouragement to anyone seeking meaning.
A must-read for anyone seeking spiritual growth and renewal.
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“Surprised by Grace will appeal to anyone desiring a deeper encounter with God.”
Adrian J. Walker,
Professor of Theology, Saint Patrick’s Seminary and University, Menlo Park, California
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“Surprised by Grace is a powerful contribution to both Spiritual Theology and American Catholic Church history.”
Bishop John O. Barres,
Diocese of Rockville Centre, Long Island, New York
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“For anyone searching for
meaning and purpose,
Surprised by Grace is an
invitation to a fuller life beyond labels and ideology.”
Gerald Gonzales, Ph.D.,
Clinical Psychologist, Adjunct Faculty, Santa Clara University
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“This is an endearing account of how the wisdom of Asia led a young man to rediscover the depths of the Christian contemplative tradition.”
Cyprian Consiglio, OSB Cam.,
Author of Rediscovering the Divine
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“At a time when the Church so desperately needs vocations to the priesthood, this exuberant spiritual adventure story could inspire a new generation to answer the call.”
Paula Huston,
Author of One Ordinary Sunday and The Hermits of Big Sur
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“In the pages of this delightful book, Father Kevin Joyce offers his readers three gifts: a captivating narrative of his journey to the priesthood, a masterful introduction to the mystical life, and a sensitive comparison between Catholicism and Eastern spirituality. In Father Joyce’s skillful hands, these three strands form a seamless whole that reflects his joy in the priesthood and his knowledge of divine things. Surprised by Grace will appeal to anyone desiring a deeper encounter with God.”
Adrian J. Walker,
Professor of Theology, Saint Patrick’s Seminary and University, Menlo Park, California
“Pope Francis emphasizes the unity of the pastor and theologian. To be truly pastoral is to be deeply theological. To be truly theological is to be deeply pastoral. Fr. Kevin Joyce and his book Surprised by Grace: A Spiritual Journey from West to East and Back exemplifies this unity. Fr. Joyce is a deeply trained Catholic priest spiritual theologian immersed in the Sacred Scriptures and immersed in the Fathers of the Church and the great Catholic saints and mystics of all centuries. It is precisely his fidelity to Catholic teaching and mission that gives him the balance and freedom to examine and identify Eastern interreligious harmonies with Catholic spirituality. At the same time, Fr. Joyce is a Catholic priest pastor whose pastoral charity, creativity, and artistry have animated a range of large multilingual and multicultural California parishes. It is his pastoral grounding and love for the parish that keep him a grounded and insightful contemporary Catholic spiritual theologian. Surprised by Grace is a powerful contribution to both Spiritual Theology and American Catholic Church history.”
Bishop John O. Barres,
Diocese of Rockville Centre, Long Island, New York
“In Surprised by Grace, Fr. Kevin Joyce takes us on an enlightening journey where the spiritual path meets unpredictable twists in life. Seamlessly blending Eastern and Western philosophies, this book transcends religious boundaries. I found solace and comfort in the reminder that a deeper connection with our spirituality can be discovered even in our most challenging moments. For anyone searching for meaning and purpose, Surprised by Grace is an invitation to a fuller life beyond labels and ideology. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone on their quest for spiritual awakening.”
Gerald Gonzales, Ph.D.,
Clinical Psychologist, Adjunct Faculty, Santa Clara University
“Kevin Joyce is a living example of the best of the Catholic ethos, which never rejects what is good and true and holy outside the visible confines of the Church, but rather takes up those elements as not only pre-Christian but pro-Christian—pointing toward their fullness in Christ. This is an endearing account of how the wisdom of Asia led a young man to rediscover the depths of the Christian contemplative tradition.”
Cyprian Consiglio, OSB Cam.,
Author of Rediscovering the Divine
“Surprised by Grace recounts an old, familiar tale: a young man sets off to find out who he is and what he’s meant to do with his life. What’s new here is Kevin Joyce’s astonishing dedication to the task. During a far-flung, years-long quest that takes him most of the way around the world, neither disillusionment nor bouts of depression can derail him. At a time when the Church so desperately needs vocations to the priesthood, this exuberant spiritual adventure story could inspire a new generation to answer the call.”
Paula Huston,
Author of One Ordinary Sunday and The Hermits of Big Sur
“Fr. Kevin Joyce has shared a generous story, with humility and humor, that incorporates the personal, the psychological, and the spiritual. His journey, with all its twists and turns, provides spiritual encouragement as well as sophisticated instruction in contemplative practice. In the end it is also a beautiful example that, summoned or not, God is present.”
Mario L. Starc, Ph.D.,
Jungian Psychoanalyst, Dean Emeritus, The Sanville Institute for Clinical Social Work and Psychotherapy, Berkeley, California
“In the spirit of Thomas Merton’s Seven Storey Mountain, Fr. Kevin Joyce entices spiritual seekers, non-believers and even skeptics to ‘gamble on God.’ After leaving family and friends to pursue the Catholic priesthood in his youth, this lover of old classic cars initiates us into a world of Yoga and Zen, the romance of Mexico, and the contemplative roots of Christian Europe. An epic adventure dancing with the beauty of marriage, the draw of celibacy, the call to ministry, and those voids that only Christ can fill, Surprised by Grace is a kind-hearted reason for hope.”
Dr. Anthony Lilles,
Author of Fire From Above: Christian Contemplation and Mystical Wisdom; Co-founder of the Avila Institute of Spiritual Formation
About the Author

Kevin Joyce

Father Kevin Joyce priest of the Diocese of San Jose since 1980, serves as professor and spiritual director at St. Patrick’s Seminary & University in Menlo Park, California. He studied at seminaries in the Archdiocese of San Francisco, the University of the Americas in Mexico City, and the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where he received a doctorate in spirituality.

He attended courses in Spain and Switzerland on the spirituality and meditation practices of the Far East. As a diocesan priest, Father Kevin served as pastor of large, multicultural parishes and founded and directed SpiritSite, a Catholic Spirituality Center.

Father Joyce has a particular interest in the East–West interreligious dialogue and in the spiritual masters of the Christian tradition, especially John of the Cross and Teresa of Avila.

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ABOUT THE BOOK

About Surprised by Grace:
A Spiritual Journey from West to East and Back
Surprised by Grace demonstrates that there is a viable alternative to the pervasive divisiveness and acrimony among people of different religious, philosophical, and cultural convictions. This book narrates the story of a committed Christian, Kevin Joyce, who devoted years to investigating Asian traditions such as Buddhist meditation and Yoga practices with open-mindedness while remaining deeply rooted in his Christian faith. What is remarkable about Joyce’s dialogue with Asian spiritualities is his avoidance of two opposite pitfalls in the encounter among different belief systems: the tendency toward syncretism and the disparagement of those with contrasting viewpoints. Rather, Joyce found that a fruitful dialogue is possible when one is rooted in one’s own beliefs while remaining open to the insights and wisdom of other traditions.
This spiritual autobiography traces the journey of a restless young man from an awakening at the age of seven, leaving home to pursue the Catholic priesthood at the age of fourteen, confronting a vocational struggle in Mexico precipitated by falling in love, and leaving the seminary to pursue marriage.
The story takes a new direction when he engages in an Asian spiritual movement that leads him to a six-month meditation course. The course is followed by a spiritual crisis that inspires the young man to a sustained exploration of Asian and Christian spirituality over a period of several years that climaxed with a Ph.D. in the area of East-West Interreligious Dialogue. His path takes many twists and turns as he pursues spirituality, adventure, romance, and a career in music, all the while seeking his vocation.
In a divided world, Surprised by Grace shows that we can still find deep connections with people and traditions very different from our own – connections that are especially facilitated by those engaged in a sustained spiritual journey.
Whether you are a seasoned traveler on your spiritual journey or a skeptic unsure of where to begin, this book offers encouragement, wisdom, and a heartfelt invitation to take a leap of faith. Dive into this inspiring story and discover how the paths of grace and personal reflection can lead you closer to the Divine.

Surprised by Grace Table of Contents

Surprised by Grace sample pages