Robert Joseph Fox (December 24, 1927 – November 26, 2009) was an American priest of the Roman Catholic church. He was an author of religious books and tapes, and appeared on many Roman Catholic television programs and conferences. Fox also served as a diocesan priest for several rural towns in South Dakota. Fox was the Director of the International Fatima Family Apostolate and Youth for Fatima Pilgrimages, editor of the Immaculate Heart Messenger. He began the Marian Congress in the United States which is held annually Early life Fox was born in Watertown, South Dakota on December 24, 1928. His parents, Aloysius and Susie Emma Fox, were farmers. Fox, the youngest of eight siblings, was raised in a religious family, and he later recalled "I never remembered when I did not want to be a priest." His father died while Fox was still a baby and he grew up working with his siblings to preserve the farm throughout the Great Depression. Before attending school, Fox was encouraged by his mother to study to become a priest like their local pastor Fr. William O'Meara. Fox stated that his "mother put the thought in my mind" of joining the priesthood before the first grade, "She mentioned it only two times in my life, but it stuck." He recalled going with her to town when she would buy groceries and that she left him free for an hour and he "would go [to] the Catholic Church and genuflect and spend time before Jesus. Even then I could feel the Real Presence of Jesus in the tabernacle. That drew me to the priest-hood." Schooling Fox attended Immaculate Conception School in Watertown, a parochial school run by Franciscan nuns. There, Fox learned of Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, an Italian monk. His story helped inspire him to pursue the priesthood. He then attended Watertown High School in Watertown. Fox later recalled his continued interest in learning about the Catholic faith during this time "We didn't have a Catholic high school in Watertown, but our family did receive the National Catholic Register. Msgr. William Smith used to have beautiful articles explaining the faith. I would wait for it to arrive in the mail every Tuesday and I would read it cover to cover."In his senior year of high school Fox suffered a farm accident with a hay rake that broke his leg. During his recovery, Fox solidified