Fr. Joe Staudt

My name is Joseph W. Staudt; I was born on July 4,1951 in Mercy Hospital, Rockville Centre, New York to Joseph W. Staudt and Margaret (Apcenski) Staudt. After I was born, the three of us lived in Hicksville, New York until our house was built in East Meadow. After me came Janice, Richard, Karen and Michele. Growing up, I loved baseball; I played Little League, CYO and high school . I became a diehard Yankee fan after my first week of being born. Apparently, the first three words my father whispered into my little ears were: “Mommy, Daddy, and Yankees”.

I had an interest in the priesthood at a young age and went to St. Pius X Preparatory Seminary, Uniondale in 1965. In senior year of high school, I became a workout “fanatic” and continue to this day to try to keep in shape. After graduating from St. Pius X Prep, I went to Cathedral College in Douglaston, Queens. During my studies there, I noticed an old drum kit in the music room and a couple of nights a week, instead of studying, I’d go down to the music room with a few record albums under my arm, put them on the stereo and try to imitate the drummer. On the drums I became a legend (in my own mind!) I have two sets of drums (electric and “regular”) in the house where I live and I try to play along with my favorite 60s rock groups (including Cream, the

Beatles, and Grand Funk Railroad). I decided to continue my studies for the priesthood by entering Immaculate Conception Seminary in Huntington, New York. I was ordained a deacon in January of 1977 and assigned to St. Rose of Lima parish in Massapequa, New York for fourteen months, after which time I was ordained a priest at St. Rose on March 4, 1978. My first parish assignment as a newly ordained priest was Corpus Christi in Mineola. In 1984 I was transferred to St. Sylvester in Medford; from there I went on to St. Patrick parish in Bay Shore (1990-1997) and then I was made pastor of Christ the King parish in Commack. In 2007, Bishop Murphy assigned me as pastor to Sacred Heart parish in Cutchogue. About eight years after that, the bishop asked me to be the administrator of Our Lady of Ostrabrama parish in Cutchogue, while I remained pastor of Sacred Heart. In June of 2023, I decided it was time to retire (i.e., slow down a bit due to a few health “challenges”). Presently, I fill in as a retired priest in three parishes: St. Mark’s in Shoreham where I celebrate Mass every Thursday morning and on weekends, and I help out “as needed” at St. Joseph’s in Ronkonkoma and also St. Patrick’s in Bay Shore. I am thoroughly enjoying retirement, because in addition to helping my brother priests, I have more time to do the things I enjoy (working out and reading, getting together with friends). I always thought being retired was like being on vacation for the rest of your life…and it is!