Joseph Giordano

Born in Brooklyn, NY (USA)  on April 4, 1943.

He was a missionary in the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and USA.

Died in Arlington, VA (USA) on November 29, 2021,

at the age of 78.

Joseph (Joe) Giordano was born in the Sheepshead Bay area of the borough of Brooklyn in New York City. He was the son of hardworking Italian immigrants, Michael Giordano and Anna Intranuovo.

Joe was a wonderful but complex personality with a profound sense of service and a unique ability to listen and to counsel wisely. At the same time, despite his apparent cheerfulness, he was also very reserved and discreet.

With his many years of dedicated service in multiple ways, Father Joseph was a monumental personality in the Diocese of Northern Virginia and was deeply loved by the numerous people he had the opportunity to serve. He had also rendered outstanding service to the Congregation in various tasks to which he was called.

While still studying at Washington Seminary, he was the official accountant; from 1974 to 1979, he was a Provincial Counselor as well as Treasurer of the CICM Province in the Dominican Republic. In 1974, he was also a Regional Delegate to the General Chapter. From 1979 to 1981, he was a member of the Formation Team in the CICM Mexico Initial Formation Program. In 1982, he was assistant director of the Latin American Program at the Mexican American Cultural Center (MACC) in San Antonio, Texas. From 1983 to 1994, he was Director of Promotion at Missionhurst and Provincial Superior of CICM U.S. Province for two terms. From 1998 to 2020, he fulfilled, at certain moments, many roles, such as Rector of Missionhurst, which he loved the most, Director of Promotion, and Member of the Provincial Council. In 2005, he became Chaplain of the Knights of Columbus, and finally, in 2020, he was assigned as Superior of Dominion House, where he died on November 29, 2021, at 4:35 p.m.

Jesus says, “By this, is my Father glorified that you bear much fruit and become my disciple” (Jn 15:8). Joe was truly our Lord’s disciple and “remained in God’s love. Thus, the Lord gave him the resilience to face multiple challenges in his missionary life, effectively fulfilling the challenging ministries to which he was called and engaged in.

Joe did not complain but, rather, experienced in his life the vibrant words of Jesus in John’s Gospel,

you are already pruned because of the Word that I spoke to you (...) Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear fruit, because without me you can do nothing (Jn15: 3-5)

For the many years of service, may he truly rest in peace.