Joseph John Oudeman was born on 2 March 1942 in Breda, The Netherlands and was baptised on the same day in the parish Church of Christ the King.

He is the eldest of five children, two girls and three boys, of Johannes and Johanna Oudeman. The family emigrated to Australia and arrived in Melbourne in February 1956.

Joseph attended the Parish Primary School of Christ the King in Breda and then in 1954-1955 he entered the Minor Seminary of the Capuchin Friars in Oosterhout (NB). Upon arrival in Australia, Joseph attended St. Patrick's College, Ballarat for one year [1956].

He then entered the Minor Seminary of the Capuchin Friars at Plumpton, NSW [1957-1959]. On the 21 January 1963 Joseph made simple profession as a Capuchin friar and then solemn profession on 27 January 1966.

He was ordained to the Priesthood on 29 June 1966 in St. Joseph's Church, Iona, Victoria, by Bishop Lyons of the Sale Diocese. Soon after he commenced post graduate studies at the Gregorian University in Rome [1966-1968]. As well as a licentiate in theology, Joseph has a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies from the University of Queensland.

Upon his return to Australia, Father Joseph began a ministry that has been largely focused on the formation of Capuchin friars. This involved a period of nineteen years: 1969-1987. Within this time he taught at Catholic Theological Union at Hunters Hill, NSW, from 1969 until 1976. He was Novicemaster from 1977-1979 and 1985-1987. His Order elected him their Provincial Minister in 1987 and this ministry of leadership concluded in 1996.

Joseph then moved to Brisbane in 1997 to become Associate Pastor of Guardian Angels Parish, Wynnum and Chaplain to the elderly Dutch migrants within the Archdiocese. He has also served as President of the South-East Asian Pacific Capuchin Conference.

In February 2001, Archbishop Bathersby appointed Father Oudeman as Dean of the Ethnic Chaplains and their communities. His multi-cultural interest as a Capuchin has been significant in recent years and he brings these gifts, together with his wisdom and scholarship in the area of spirituality to the ministry of episcopacy.

Bishop Oudeman is termed an Auxiliary Bishop.

In the Roman Catholic Church, an auxiliary bishop is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because either the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, or more usually, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer.

In the Archdiocese of Brisbane, Bishop Oudeman shares auxiliary duties with Bishop Brian Finnigan.

As Canon law provides, no bishop can be ordained without title to a certain and distinct episcopal see which he governs either actually or potentially, therefore auxiliary bishops are titular bishops to sees (dioceses) that no longer exist.

Bishop Oudeman is the Titular Bishop of Respetta, a diocese that formerly existed in Numidia in Northern Africa (located on the eastern border of modern day Algeria).

When dealing with a Bishop the more formal method of address is “My Lord…” but usually using the title of Bishop along with their christian name will suffice.