Father Girone’s Bequest Will Further His Support of CNEWA and Honor His Parents

Father Joseph Girone

Father Joseph Girone always wanted to be a missionary to Latin America, especially Peru, which is one of the reasons he identifies so strongly with and happily supports CNEWA’s missionary outreach work. “Many years ago, when I was young and discerning a vocation, I met Msgr. Bob Stern,” (President of CNEWA for 26 years) Father Joseph says. “He took an interest and encouraged me to continue praying about a vocation to the priesthood.”

Now 38 years into his general pastoral career, Father Joseph serves as a priest in a primarily Hispanic parish in Union City, New Jersey. Though he never had a chance to do missionary work abroad, through his support of CNEWA’s mission, “I guess I can be a missionary staying at home here in the Archdiocese of Newark!” he says joyfully.

In addition to his longtime regular contributions, Father Joseph has also designated “a portion of my will to go to CNEWA so that its life-giving mission can continue.” His gift is in honor of his dear parents, Louis and Anna Girone. “They are still alive, almost 80 years married!” he says. “My father is 103, and my mother is 101. I struggled for a while with wanting to go on a mission, but I could not leave them.”

Father Joseph says that he was first exposure to CNEWA was the publication ONE, which inspired him to learn more. In fact, he notes that a recent ONE story titled “The Samaritan Pope” affected him: “It gives the heart-lifting details of Pope Francis’ pilgrimage to Iraq,” he says. “I was deeply moved by the encouragement the Iraqi people experienced during and after the Papal visit. They have suffered so much at the hands of ISIS. I am so happy that the people are moving back to their homes and rebuilding their lives.”

When asked about the most important thing he has gained from his association with CNEWA, Father Joseph says, “I continue to be very moved and impressed by the help CNEWA gives to our suffering Christian brethren, particularly in the Near East and in Africa. Also, I learned about the richness of expression of our Catholic faith. Sometimes we in the Latin Rite think that it is the only expression of Catholicism. CNEWA opened my horizon to see the beauty of many other Catholic rites. I also learned much about the Orthodox expression of the faith.”

He adds that he hopes his gift will “encourage our brothers and sisters in the Near East and elsewhere to live in peace. I also wish that Lebanon, with its large Catholic population, can be helped to rebuild.”

Father Joseph also hopes others will consider the legacy they could leave through a thoughtful planned gift to continue their support of CNEWA’s important work. “I would encourage supporters to consider making CNEWA a beneficiary in their wills because the Christian communities that it serves will need so much help going forward and into the distant future,” he concludes. “We cannot abandon the Christian communities that have been faithful to our faith since apostolic times.”

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