Parish Staff

Fr. Walden became Pastor of St. Patrick's in 2003.

Shortly after he was born in Scranton, PA, his family moved to Greenport, where he and his three siblings grew up. He attended public schools in Greenport. After graduating from high school, he entered the seminary. He attended Pius X Minor Seminary in Uniondale for his first two years of college and the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington for the remaining two years. He then studied theology for four years and was ordained in 1971.

He served as associate pastor at St. John the Evangelist in Riverhead, St. Anne’s in Brentwood, and St. Anthony of Padua in East Northport, before becoming pastor of St. Thomas More Church in Hauppauge in 1989. He served as pastor at St. Thomas More for 14 years before becoming pastor at St. Patrick’s.

Our associate pastor, Fr. Abraham Thannickal is from Kerala, India. He was ordained to the priesthood on November 21st, 2011. In his first seven years as a priest, he wore many hats, often simultaneously. In his first assignment, he served as assistant director of Bethany College of Nursing. He then served as assistant principal for a K-12 school while also serving as a parish priest in two parishes. He then served as principal for Bethany College of Arts and Commerce in Trivandrum, where he had studied for his commerce degree. Also during that time, he was a parish priest for two parishes and the rector of a hostel that housed the college students. Fr. Abraham then became the administrator of a K to 12 school in Kalayapuram, India, while also serving as a parish priest in two parishes. He then spent time preparing to work in the American Church, arriving at St. Patrick’s on October 10, 2018.

Fr. Thomas Acheampong became our new associate pastor in June of 2019. He previously served as chaplain at Good Samaritan Hospital in West Islip.

Born and raised in the Diocese of Kumasi in Ghana, Fr. Thomas is the third of nine children. He was ordained in 1997. His background includes four years as an associate pastor and 13 years as a pastor in various parishes in Ghana.

He studied for a Licentiate in Sacred Theology at Catholic University in Bologna, Italy, receiving a master’s degree. He also served as a chaplain working with immigrants during that time.

Fr. Fred Hill served as chaplain at St. Catherine of Siena Hospital and Nursing Home in Smithtown for more than 30 year. He has also resided here at St. Patrick’s for more than two decades, celebrating Masses, hearing confessions and assisting in other parish work.

Fr. Fred was born in the Bronx, the youngest of six children. He attended St. Mary's Minor Seminary in Garrison, NY and St. Anthony's Friary in Hudson. He received a master's degree in theology from Mary Immaculate Theologate in Garrison, NY and a master of science degree from Rivier College in New Hampshire. He was ordained in 1967.

Fr. Fred spent his first six years as a priest teaching biology and earth science. He also worked as a vocations director and in a parish in Yonkers before becoming chaplain at St. Catherine’s. He retired from the chaplaincy in June of 2014. He continues to reside in our parish, assisting with priestly duties.

Deacon Jerry Reda came to St. Patrick’s in February of 2016. He was ordained to the permanent Diaconate in the Diocese of Rockville Centre in 2003 and was assigned to Sts. Philip & James Parish in St. James where he served for 13 years. Deacon Jerry and his wife Suzanne live in St. James. They have three children: Nicole, Stephanie and Michael. Deacon Jerry received his theological training from the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington, N.Y. As a permanent Deacon he also works full time as a Chief Operating Officer for a large Beverage Distribution Company. His children are products of Catholic education and he has been a board member for various Catholic elementary schools and high schools on Long Island. Deacon Jerry enjoys fishing and watching high school and collegiate softball and baseball, especially when his children are playing.

Deacon Matthew Faughnan was ordained to the permanent diaconate on Wednesday, September 23, 2020. A first-generation Irish-American, he is the youngest of seven, who grew up in Brooklyn and moved to Long Island in 1998. He came to St. Patrick’s in 2016 as an aspirant in the Diaconate Formation Program where he received his theological training.

Deacon Matt has been a Eucharistic minister and a lector at St. Pat’s along with being in charge of scheduling Eucharistic ministers for the weekend Masses since 2017. He and his wife Eileen live in Hauppauge with their two chocolate Labrador Retriever puppies, Autumn and Willow.

Matt works as Administrator of Finance for a mid-sized law firm on Long Island and the tristate area.

Joseph Menge has been our parish business manager since 1995.

Joe is a native of the Bronx. He attended St. Frances De Chantal Elementary and St. Helena High School. He received a B.A. Degree from St. John’s University in Queens, NY and a master’s degree from Middlebury College in Vermont. He also went through the diocese Pastoral Formation Institute.

Most of his career was spent as an educator. He taught Spanish in South Huntington for 34 years. He has also prepared taxes for more than 40 years, a part of his background that eventually led to his position as Business Manager. Joe and his wife Marie have been active parishioners for many years. Joe’s volunteer work has included staining and painting, serving as president of the Youth Council and Parish Council, working with Bingo and the Parish Picnic, and running the Booster Club. Marie coordinated the Parish Picnic, worked as producer, set designer and construction coordinator for St. Patrick shows, ran fashion shows, raised funds for the New Life Center, chaired commemorative journals and volunteered in St. Patrick School. More recently, Marie and Joe have helped raise funds through our annual Car Raffle.

Joe and Marie have three children and one grandchild.

As Youth Administrator, Cindy Marsh overseas a wide range of programs which includes music, youth group, before & after school care, a learning center, summer camp, a program for mothers and their young children, fitness classes and a wide variety of sports.

Cindy was born in Atlanta, GA and grew up in Southern California. She received a B.S. Degree in Human Development from the University of California at Davis as well as a graduate degree in Education, Multiple Subject Clear Credential. She also received an M.S. Degree from Stony Brook University and is certified in Sports Nutrition and Personal Training.

Cindy taught high school English, Home Economics and was a cheerleading coach at Taipei American School. She taught 4th and 5th grade teacher in Winters, CA, 6th grade in Sacramento, CA, and junior high at St. Patrick School.

She is the mother of three children: Christopher, Danielle and Caitlin.

Elaina Kedjierski is Director of Religious Education for Levels 1 through 4. She also runs St. Patrick’s Adult Faith Formation program.

Elaina lived in Brooklyn until the age of six when her family moved to Bethpage. She holds a B.A. Degree in Education from Hofstra University; an M.A. Degree in Liberal Studies from Stony Brook University, and an M.A. Degree in Theology from the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception. She worked as Director of Religious Education at St. Aidan’s in Williston Park; as Religious Coordinator for Special Ed at St. Joseph’s in Ronkonkoma; and as a Special Ed Teacher Assistant in the Sachem School District and at Preschooler’s Place for Learning.

Elaina and her husband Walter have two children: Walter, who is a priest in our diocese, and Christine, the mother of two children, Julianna and Joseph.

St. Patrick’s Director of Religious Formation for Levels 5 – 8 is Peggy Soviero.

Peggy has worked in our parish since 1990. She served as Youth Coordinator for several years before becoming Co-director of Religious Formation. In 2003, she took on her current position at Director of Religious Education for Levels 5 to 8.

Peggy grew up in Floral Park where she attended Our Lady of Victory School. She then attended Floral Park Memorial High School and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton College in Yonkers. She and her husband, Steve, have four children and several grandchildren.

Dianne Williams became Director of Parish Outreach the summer of 2010. She oversees a numerous ministries and volunteers numbering more than 200.

Dianne holds a B.A. degree in Special Education from Dowling College in Oakdale, NY and an M.A. degree in Special Education from Adelphi University in Garden City, NY. She worked for many years as a special education teacher in the William Floyd School District, teaching autistic and learning disabled children. Her first involvement with Outreach came when she was asked to facilitate a Bereavement Workshop not long after the death of her husband, Bob, in a car accident. She later filled in as a secretary, then worked part-time and eventually full-time. She worked in Outreach for nearly 14 years before becoming the director.

Dianne has four children: Scott, Melissa, Jenna and Keith.

Josh Moore became our youth minister in August of 2019. Josh is originally from upstate New York. He grew up in a small town near Binghamton and is a graduate of Marywood University, a Catholic University in Scranton PA. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Guitar Performance. During his time at Marywood, Josh was deeply involved with campus ministry, including men's groups, Bible studies, youth ministry clubs, and the weekly praise and worship adoration where he led worship for three years. Josh began his college career as a Protestant, but converted to Catholicism during his sophomore year. It was also around this time that he met his future-wife Claire, a devout Catholic. His senior year, he became a full-time music director and youth minister at a parish in Tamaqua, PA in the Diocese of Allentown. There he led a choir and played at their four Masses every weekend. He also led a group of students to receive their confirmation. Finally, at the end of that year, after graduation, he moved to Long Island where he married Claire. Together they have been leading the music at the 5:00 PM Sunday Mass since June of 2017. Before becoming our parish youth minister, both he and Claire were very involved with the Life Teen program, volunteering at the weekly Life Nights as well as helping out at Edge Nights and providing music for the XLT Holy Hours. In September of 2018, Claire and Josh had their first child Elijah, who is a bundle of energy and joy!

Barbara Pellerito was named principal at St. Patrick School in the fall of 2017, replacing retiring principal, Linda Pymm. Mrs Pellerito served as St. Patrick School’s assistant principal during the 2015-16 and 2016-17 school years. She began her educational career teaching Preschool, earning her Child Development State Certification. She continued her studies at Long Island University at CW Post earning her MS in Childhood Education. Mrs. Pellerito began working in public schools, but in 2010 decided to join the Diocese of Rockville Centre, where she has found her home. Mrs. Pellerito is truly a lifelong learner. She recently earned a second MA in educational administration. Mrs. Pellerito resides in Commack with her husband and three children – a daughter and twin boys.

Mrs. Darmanin started her career in Catholic education in 1989. She has called the Diocese of Rockville Center "home" since then. She has taught in grades nursery though eighth. She received her bachelor’s degree in child study at St. Joseph’s College and both her masters and administration certification from Stony Brook University. Mrs. Darmanin and her husband are active members of the St. Patrick parish. Mrs. Darmanin lives in Port Jefferson Station with her husband and shih tzu, Yoda. Her son, who recently graduated from Catholic University with his MA, lives in Alexandria, VA and is currently serving in the Army Reserves. Mrs. Darmanin believes that a collaborative school environment is key to successful teachers and students. Partnerships with parents and the community are essential to enriching St. Patrick School. Mrs. Darmanin sits on a congressional committee for the West Point Military Academy and on the congressional education committee. She is a board member for the Suffolk County PD Civilian Police Academy and during her free time she enjoys reading FBI thrillers and spending time with her friends & family.