Our Beginning

Fr. Joe is the founding pastor of the Sts. Francis and Clare faith community. Fr. Joe has ministered in New York City, southern California, and south Florida. He is an experienced educator in the classroom and as a school administrator.

The Parish of Sts. Francis and Clare began on Christmas Eve in 2004, sharing space with the First Lutheran Church in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. The church later moved to SE Third Street, and then to our present location in 2016.

Fr. Joe retired from the full-time pastorship in January 2024. He has continued his ministry at various hospitals and senior residences here in south Florida. He is head chaplain at Memorial Pembroke Hospital as well as several other local hospitals.

The words from his First Profession card say it all: “I have come to do your will, O God.” Heb. 10:7

May we all be instruments of peace.