Joseph-Marie Timon-David, SCJ (1823–1891) was a French Catholic priest and founder of the eponymous Timon David Fathers.

Joseph-Marie Timon-David was born on 29 January 1823 in Marseille,[1] into a wealthy and deeply Christian family, which had experienced the trials of the French Revolution.

[citation needed] In 1842, Bishop Eugene de Mazenod sent Timon-David to Paris to the seminary of Saint Sulpice.

There he met Dom Guéranger, restorer of Solesmes Abbey, who would open to him the meaning and beauty of the liturgy.

Gradually, through painful and unsuccessful attempts, he decided to adopt the methods a priest of Marseille, Jean-Joseph Allemand, had applied to train the youth of the bourgeoisie.

[8] Seeing the quality and scope of what was being accomplished, Bishop Eugene de Mazenod urged Timon-David to found a religious congregation in the service of the work.

[1] The bishop recognised both the work and the religious community, and gave them as patron the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Timon, while always giving priority to the young people of his house and to his community, would travel around France to explain his method; he would multiply his writings; he would always be the promoter of a Christian education that is not afraid to invite young people to go as far as possible on the path of holiness.

Until the end, despite all the hassle and notoriety, he remained faithful to his vow of servitude to working class youth.

[citation needed] He was the author of a hagiography (biography) of St. Joseph Calasanctius (Marseille, 1883), and Method of direction of youth works: patronages, circles, schools, small seminars, etc.