Rev. Vincent was born in Brooklyn, NY and is a native New Yorker. He attended Our Lady of Mount Carmel School in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. He graduated from Christ the King High School in Middle Village, Queens. After High School, he attended the Catholic Medical Center School of Radiology and practiced X-Ray Technology until 1999. In 1999, Rev. Vincent was accepted to Cathedral Seminary Residence in Douglaston. He graduated from Saint Francis College in 2002 with a BA in Philosophy. His post-graduate studies were at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington, NY. He graduated with a MA and M.Div. in 2007. He holds a Certificate in Spiritual Direction and currently is working on a MS in Psychology. He was ordained a Priest of Jesus Christ by the Most Rev. Nicholas DiMarzio on June 2, 2007. His assignments were parochial Vicars at Saint Luke Church in Whitestone, Pastor of Saint Dominic Church in Bensonhurst, and Pastor at Our Lady of Grace in Brooklyn. Rev. Vincent speaks English and Italian. Rev Vincent loves to read, study, pray and enjoy walks with his dog Harry. He loves his family, friends, and brother priests.

Father Robinson Olivares was born in the Dominican Republic. He came to live in West Harlem with his parents and two siblings when he was 7 years old. Soon after arriving in New York, he started attending public school where he made a couple of good friends, and attended classes with other children in a parishioners' basement. He prayed the Rosary as a family at home, went to Mass every Sunday and on holy days of obligation, made lifelong friends in the building where he grew up, while also keeping close to his extended family who lived nearby. His home parish was Our Lady of Lourdes near City College. He loved being an altar server there and participated in the youth group as a teenager. His life was centered between home, school, and church, and spending time with friends, either playing video games, playing outside the building or in the park. Fr. Robinson did very well in his classes and finished high school with honors. However, he found College classes too boring and opted instead to get training at a technical school to work in Information Technology (IT). He worked in IT Tech. support for 20 years before entering the seminary. The Seminary was very challenging because his mind was used to thinking very logically and studying philosophy seemed to “out there” for him. Eventually he “understood” what the philosophers were trying to do; they were trying to arrive at some knowledge, a guiding truth, a certain wisdom which would help them make sense of the world and their lives. After finishing his philosophical studies and college degree, he entered the major seminary to continue ongoing priestly formation, as well as finishing theological studies at Pope Saint John XXIII regional seminary in Weston, MA. Fr. Robinson was accepted to be ordained a transitional deacon and served as such at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament in Bayside. A year later, three brother deacons and he, were ordained to the Holy Priesthood by Bishop Dimarzio. He was sent to serve the parishioners of Saint Matthias Church in Ridgewood, where he has spent his first five years as a priest. Fr. Robinson welcomes and looks forward to being of service to God’s children at St. Joseph in Astoria

Father Bill attended Cathedral College in Brooklyn; Niagara University, NY (BA); Our Lady of Angels Seminary in Albany where he was ordained in 1963. He obtained a MA at Webster University in St Louis, and the US Air Force’s Air Command and Staff College in Montgomery, AL. Father Bill has been ordained for 59 years, during which he served as a Parish priest at St. Gabriel the Archangel in Brooklyn, and Incarnation Church in Queens Village. He was a High School Guidance counselor and School Chaplain at Monsignor McClancy High School from 2001 to 2010, and an Air Force Chaplain for 25 years, retiring as a Colonel in 1993. Father Bill has a FAA commercial pilot license and is a certified flight instructor with 3,00 flight hours. He has happily volunteered to assist St Joseph Church for the last 25 years and loves every minute of it!

Fr. Edward was born in the island of Malta. While Malta has its own language and culture, it resembles the Italian culture very much. After Fr. Cassar finished High School, he attended St. Liberta College for Philosophy and then completed four years at St Laurence of Brindisi Seminary for Theology. Fr. Cassar was ordained a priest for the Capuchin Franciscan Order in Malta on March 22, 1969. Immediately after his priestly ordination, he was sent to the Gregorian University in Rome for a post graduate course in Pastoral Theology and Missionology. Two months after Fr. Cassar returned to Malta from Rome to volunteer as a Missionary in Ethiopia, Africa where he was stationed in Addis Ababa and the Mission Station of Gigija. Fr. Cassar came to the US in 1972 to attend the New York Medical and Dental Assistants on a scholarship and graduated as a Medical Laboratory Technician. He has been in the Brooklyn Diocese for 50 years. For 17 years he worked in two parishes in Queens. He speaks English, Maltese, and Italian. Fr Cassar is passionate in being a priest for people.

Deacon Raul was ordained in 2013. He is a native of Honduras and is fluent in English and Spanish. He has served the St Joseph Church parish in Baptisms, Cursillo, Divine Mercy, Hospital visits, Prayer services at Wakes, and Funerals of parishioner. Deacon Raul serves the diverse Hispanic ministries in the Parish.

Eric Juneau is a New-York based musician specializing in operatic and sacred music. He is happy to join the St. Joseph's community here in Astoria, as a new Astorian himself. He previously cantored at St. Teresa's of Sunnyside, was Music Director at Our Lady of Fatima Port Washington, and was Music Director at Holy Innocents of Brooklyn. He speaks Italian, and bits of French, Spanish, Veneto dialect, and Latin, in addition to his native English. Originally from Virginia, Eric moved to Cleveland for his Bachelors in Oboe and Music Theory from the Cleveland Institute of Music, and then to New York for his Masters in Conducting at Queens College. He now works around the city as a church organist, opera pianist, vocal coach, and choral baritone. He works with students whose ages range from 8 to 80, and coaches individuals as well as groups. In his free time, Eric can be found playing guitar, reading, or on a coffee date with his wife Sara.

Mayra’s parents fled Cuba when she was just a baby for freedom and a better life in the U.S. Growing up in Astoria, Mayra was determined to live up to that promise. In her thirty-three plus career in Corporate America, Mayra received numerous awards and honors including Crain’s New York’s “40 under 40”, El Diario Latinas 2006 Distinguished Woman, Flushing Town Hall COCA Award, and the Eagle Award from the National Eagle Leadership Institute. She held executive positions at HSBC, Astoria Bank and Sterling National Bank. Mayra holds a degree in Marketing and International Business from NYU graduating summa cum laude and a master’s degree in Banking from the University of Virginia. She is fluent in English, Spanish and Italian and held a Series 7, 63, life and health license. The tragic accident she witnessed of her beloved Mother in 2019 changed her life bringing her closer to GOD. She decided to quit the corporate world and dedicate her time to her family, friends, and community. Mayra joined the Lectors for the Spanish Mass at St. Joseph Church. Mayra’s passion includes the beach, writing and making a difference in the life of others. St Joseph Church has been her parish since she took her first communion. She resides in Astoria with her husband Joe, and their children Daniel and Jessica. Her motto is that every day is an opportunity to learn and become a better version of oneself.

Silvia Rivera Born in Ecuador. She has a bachelor’s degree in education and obtained the Diocesan Lay Leadership Certificate through the School of Evangelization of Brooklyn. Silvia started working at St. Joseph’s church as a secretary back in September 2006. She worked with Mgrs. John Harrington, Rev. Vincent Miceli and now Rev. Vincent Chirichella. Silvia is a catechist and an instructor for the (RCIA) Religious Education Program for adults. She also is the coordinator for parish activities, and maintains the church’s social media, like Facebook and Website. Silvia loves working at this parish. Throughout the years, she has met wonderful people that have enriched her faith with their own personal stories. Silvia’s passion is helping people and giving them advice, and her time to all the ones that would like to listen and be listened. Silvia is married with three kids and two grandchildren. She loves spending time with family and friends. Silvia enjoys reading, coloring, and knitting. She celebrates life every single day as this could be the last one. Life is beautiful! Life is a miracle, life is life. ☺ Silvia is fluent in Spanish, English and Italian.

Joanne was born in Italy and came to Queens, New York at the age of nine. The main component of her Italian culture, is her devotion to her town's patron Saint Rocco. Later in life, Joanne named her son Rocco to honor Saint Rocco. Joanne and her husband, Jerry named their daughter after his patron saint - Maria Santissima Delle Neve. Joanne is fluent in English and Italian. She has extensive experience in the corporate world. In addition, Joanne is a member and volunteer at the Italian American Social Clubs in Astoria. These clubs share their devotion to Saint Rocco and Maria Delle Neve. Joanne is passionate about helping the catholic community of St Joseph.

Luis Enrique Jacquez is from El Paso, Texas, and holds a bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of Texas at El Paso. His commitment to ministry works first took root along the US/ Mexico border where he organized bible study events at detention centers for unaccompanied youth, supported displaced families in shelters in both El Paso and Ciudad Juárez, served as a youth group coordinator, and confirmation teacher at St. Pius X parish. From 2015 to 2020, he deepened his vocational calling through discernment with the Missionaries of St. Charles Scalabrini. Returning to El Paso in 2020 he resumed his border ministry work. In 2023, he relocated to New York City to continue working with unaccompanied minors recently reunified with their families. He currently works full time as a Training Specialist at Healing New York, facilitating school workshops on keeping young people safe both in-person and online, providing child safety topics for parents and professionals. He currently serves as a catechist at St. Ignatius Loyola and in Young Adult ministry at St. Francis Xavier in Manhattan. As the part-time Youth Minister at St. Joseph's, Luis looks forward to collaborating with the community to empower young people to discover their calling and build a mission-driven youth program. In his free time, he enjoys running, visiting museums, and cooking Mexican food his grandmother would make him.

Irene-Luisa was born in Connecticut, graduating Valedictorian at the young age of 15 and honored as a Connecticut State Scholarship recipient for academic achievement as well as receiving the Kiwanis and Knights of Columbus Scholastic Achievement Awards. She took one-year off to study abroad in Florence and Naples, Italy. Upon returning to the United States, she entered the Boston Conservatory of Music on partial scholarship from which she holds a BFA. After graduating Irene-Luisa moved to New York City to further her studies. She was fortunate to study with Joyce Lynn, of The New York City Opera and worked in several productions prior to its closing at City Center in 2011; as well as Brooklyn Academy of Music and in several Off-Broadway productions such as West Side Story in the role of Maria. Her love for religious music, always in the forefront, found her singing in Church and Gospel Choirs since the tender age of 10 and continues until today. Honoring her father’s wish that she also pursues a “practical” career in order to always “have something to fall back on”, Irene studied nights at FIT. With the help of those professors who believed in her abilities and encouraging her, Irene-Luisa was fortunate to work for several corporations affording her the opportunity to study technical design/development and production in Taiwan and China; and over 25 years rise competitively as both a TECHNICIAN and DESIGNER. She initiated and obtained a Binding Ruling from the U.S. Government that still benefits companies today, saving them hundreds of thousands of dollars in duty costs. Rising to Vice President and becoming one of only a few women in this male dominated field, prepared the way for her to own & operate her own Corporation, Milagros Imports LTD. A life altering experience in China strengthened her faith and was the impetus behind her retiring from the corporate world. Irene-Luisa has served and continues to serve St. Joseph in many areas - as a Lector, Eucharistic Minister, teaching arts & crafts to “The Golden Age Club”, making her beautiful SPECIALTY CANDLES that sell in the church as well as singing with OLOMC Choir. In a dual career spanning more than 30 years, Irene-Luisa considers herself MOST blessed and fortunate. “God bless my parents for raising us with strong ETHIC and RELIGIOUS VALUES. I will be forever grateful to them for this.” She lives in Astoria with husband Ramón.

Joseph Nelson was raised in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, where his faith took root at St. Mark’s Parish. From a very young age, he was actively involved in parish life, assisting his father, who faithfully served as a sacristan and custodian at St. Mark’s Church. Through this early exposure, Joseph developed a deep love for the Church and a strong spirit of service. He attended Sheepshead Bay High School and later continued his education at APEX Technical School. For over 21 years, Joseph has dedicated himself to serving the Diocese of Brooklyn, carrying out his work with commitment, humility, and devotion. Throughout his years of service, he has been assigned to several parishes, including Resurrection Parish, Visitation Church, St. Dominic Church, Our Lady of Grace Parish, and currently serves at St. Joseph’s Parish. Joseph approaches his work with great passion, strong skills, and admirable character. One of his greatest virtues is his patience, which guides him in every task and interaction. He is always willing to assist anyone who comes to him and is widely known for being reliable, capable, and attentive in all aspects of parish maintenance. Through his dedication, the parish facilities are cared for with excellence, creating a welcoming and well-maintained environment where the parish community can gather and worship with peace and dignity. Joseph has been married for 20 years to his beloved wife, Necta. Together, they have been blessed with two sons, Joseph and Dominick, whom they raise with strong family values and a foundation of faith. Joseph’s life reflects a steadfast dedication to God, the Church, and his family, offering his service as a quiet but meaningful witness of faith in action.

Harry is a Havanese, the national dog of Cuba. While Harry is small, he is sturdy in structure and personality. He has a spirited personality and a curious disposition, and is notable for its springy gait, a characteristic that distinguishes the breed from all others. Harry is the ideal family pet and a true companion dog. He is a social companion and thrives on being surrounded with love. Harry is 6 years old.