Deacon Joe was born and raised in Wilmington, De. After attending Christ Our King elementary schooland, with the encouragement of the parish priests at Christ Our King along with the Sisters of St. Joseph who taught at the grade school, he entered Highs School seminary at St. Charles Seminary in Catonsville, Md. to begin his studies for the Priesthood. Completing his Freshman and Sophomore years there he finished his Junior and Senior years at Salesianum School. This experience reminds him of Jesus’ words in scripture: “My thoughts are not your thoughts; nor are my ways your ways”. Our Lord’s plans for him were completely different. 

Earning a BA in Political Science from LaSalle University and an MBA from Widener University, he was employed with the DuPont company for almost 34 years before retiring. Deacon Joe was also an Adjunct Faculty member at Widener University and Delaware Technical Community College teaching various Business and English as Second Language courses. Entering the Diocese of Wilmington’s Permanent Diaconate Formation program in 1997, he was ordained a Permanent Deacon for the Diocese of Wilmington by the late Bishop Michael A. Saltarelli, DD in November 2001. In addition to parish ministry, Deacon Joe has served as a Pontifical Deacon and is currently an Advocate for the Diocesan Tribunal Office and a mentor for aspirants currently enrolled in the diocese’s Deacon Formation program. He is also a Knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem and a fourth-degree member of the Knights of Columbus.

He is blessed to have two caring daughters, Laura and Lisa, an attentive and respectful son-in-law, Lou, and two awesome grandchildren, Viviana Rose and Nicholas Joseph. H is most grateful to continue his diaconal ministry at Church of the Holy Child parish.