Staff Member: Deacon Joe Cilia
Deacon Joe Cilia
Clergy
Phone: 3026447300
Email: Click Here to Email
Deacon Joe Cilia was born and raised in Wilmington, De. After attending Christ Our King elementary school, he entered highs school seminary at St. Charles Seminary in Catonsville, Md. Completing his Freshman and Sophomore years there he finished his Junior and Senior year requirements at Salesianum School. Earning a BA 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 a second language courses. Entering the Diocese of Wilmington’s Permanent Diaconate Formation program in 1997, he was ordained as a Permanent Deacon by the late Bishop Michael A. Saltarelli, DD in November 2001. In addition to parish ministry, Deacon Joe is also an advocate for the diocese’s Tribunal Office.
Deacon Joe and his wife, Toni Ann will be married for 42 years this coming October and have two daughters, Laura and Lisa, a son-in-law, Lou, and two grandchildren, Viviana Rose and Nicholas Joseph.
Deacon Joe is grateful that Bishop Malooly assigned him to St. Jude’s parish to continue his diaconate ministry. In the words at the beginning of our liturgies, his prayer for the people of this vibrant parish community: “May the grace and peace of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, the love of the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you always”.
