St. Thérèse Devotion Forms Bond Between Queens Pastor, Parishioner

Father Vincent Chirichella, pastor of St. Joseph Church in Astoria, Queens, and parishioner Yvonne Sfogliano have formed a friendship through their shared devotion to St. Thérèse of Lisieux. Sfogliano, a 79-year-old Eucharistic minister, recently gave Father Chirichella a small portrait of the saint surrounded by a crocheted border. The portrait was a gift to Sfogliano from a Sister of St. Joseph when she was 6 years old. Father Chirichella now keeps the framed portrait on his desk.

St. Joseph Church observed the feast day of St. Thérèse of Lisieux on Oct. 1 with a triduum held from Sept. 29 through Oct. 1. Sfogliano has been devoted to the saint since childhood, while Father Chirichella's devotion began during his discernment for the priesthood.