Senate Resolution No. 3170
BY: Senator GRIFFO
COMMENDING Reverend Joseph Salerno upon the
occasion of celebrating the 40th Anniversary of his
Ordination to the Priesthood
WHEREAS, The character and richness of religious and community life
in this noble Empire State is nourished and fulfilled through the
faithful concern and selfless devotion of those who would commit their
energies and purpose to the ministry of others; and
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to bring full
recognition and just tribute to those individuals who distinguish
themselves and the ministry through their unremitting commitment and
preeminence of service; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commend Reverend
Joseph Salerno upon the occasion of celebrating the 40th Anniversary of
his Ordination to the Priesthood; and
WHEREAS, A native of Utica, New York, Reverend Joseph Salerno is the
son of John and Genevieve (Giglio) Salerno; and
WHEREAS, He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from
Maryknoll College, Glenn Ellyn, Illinois; and a Master of Divinity
degree from the University of Saint Michael's College in Toronto,
Ontario, Canada; in 1980, he was ordained to the Catholic priesthood;
and
WHEREAS, He served as Pastor of St. Mary of Mount Carmel Church in
Utica, New York, from 1991 until 2002; and
WHEREAS, Since 2002, Reverend Joseph Salerno has served as Pastor of
Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Utica; in 2014, he administrated the
parish of St. John's in New Hartford until the appointment of a new
pastor in 2015; and
WHEREAS, The following year, Reverend Joseph Salerno assumed the
additional responsibility of pastoring in Our Lady of the Rosary Church
in New Hartford, as well as remaining at Lady of Lourdes Church; and
WHEREAS, Over the past 40 years, ministry has brought him to work in
various assignments in towns and cities such as Endicott, Binghamton,
Lee Center, Albany, Utica, and now New Hartford; and
WHEREAS, In addition, he has served as Chaplain to the Utica Fire
Department as well as the Utica Police Department for more than two
decades; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Joseph Salerno has sat on the boards of both Hope
House and the former St. Joseph's Nursing Home, and served as the Vicar
for the Eastern Region of the Diocese of Syracuse; and
WHEREAS, Presently, Reverend Joseph Salerno serves as a member of
the Board of Directors of the Notre Dame Schools, Catholic Charities of
Oneida and Madison Counties, and the Community Foundation of Herkimer
and Oneida Counties; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Joseph Salerno enjoys music, reading, the theatre,
the Boilermaker Road Race, hanging in there with the Buffalo Bills, and
consuming his fair share of ice cream; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Joseph Salerno has brought to his ministry an
overwhelming spirit of charity and compassion, acting from vision and
enlightenment in conducting his administrative and spiritual duties,
while always displaying the highest standards of personal and
professional integrity and dedication; and
WHEREAS, This distinguished man of God has always given
enlightenment, guidance and wisdom to the many entrusted to his care and
has administered abundantly and unstintingly to the spiritual and
corporal needs of all; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when a person
of such noble aims and accomplishments is brought to our attention it is
appropriate to publicly and jubilantly proclaim and commend that
individual for the edification of others; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Reverend Joseph Salerno upon the occasion of celebrating the
40th Anniversary of his Ordination to the Priesthood, noting his
unremitting and compassionate faith and his exemplary service to God,
man, and his community, and extending to him the heartfelt best wishes
of this Legislative Body for a future of purposeful success and
well-being; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Reverend Joseph Salerno.
