STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — What started as a temporary position for a 17-year-old girl has blossomed into a remarkable 70-year musical legacy at a Staten Island church.
This week, Josephine Giordano, 87, celebrated her platinum anniversary as organist and choir master of St. Michael’s R.C. Church in Mariners Harbor at a special Saturday Mass.
The dangerously frigid temperatures did not stop parishioners, family, friends, elected officials, and community leaders from joining Rev. Jack Soler for Mass.
During the Mass, Rev. Soler announced that Pope Leo XIV had sent an Apostolic Blessing to Giordano “on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of her religious profession.”
District Attorney Michael E. McMahon applauds after Josephine Giordano received an Apostolic Blessing from Pope Leo XIV at a special Mass to celebrate her 70th anniversary as organist and choir master at St. Michael’s R.C. Church in Mariners Harbor on Saturday, February 7, 2026. (Owen Reiter for the Advance/SILive.com)Owen Reiter
Girodano explained that when she was asked to play the organ, “It was supposed to be temporary. I never imagined that stepping in to help would become my life’s calling.”
Born and raised in Mariners Harbor, Giordano’s musical journey began early. “I started on the piano,” she recalls. At just 4 years old, her father’s boss noticed her talent and gifted the family an upright piano. By age 5, she was taking lessons, and by 11, she was under the tutelage of Rose Gippa, the church organist.
“Rose really taught me the repertoire,” Giordano said. “She even allowed me to play two hymns during the Mass to give me the taste of the priest on the altar and the formality of the Mass.”
Josephine Giordano stands alongside a photo of her as a 12-year-old playing the piano as hundreds celebrate her 70th anniversary as organist and choir master at St. Michael’s R.C. Church in Mariners Harbor on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (Owen Reiter for the Advance/SILive.com)Owen Reiter
At 17, she got her big break when Gippa moved to another church. “In addition to playing the organ, they needed someone to step in to help out with the children’s choir, so I took charge of 30 children, eventually teaching them four-part harmony.”
Her choir alumni include notable figures like Angelo “Butch” Aponte, who later became a New York State assemblyman, and legendary Staten Island singer Al Lambert.
Entertainer, recording artist and radio personality Vinnie Medugno shared that, as a young boy, he learned to hear and sing harmonies by listening to Giordano during Mass. “She’s been the soundtrack of my faith, and the faith of so many others who have passed through our great parish.”
Medugno went on to say, “She is the very fabric with which our church was built upon, and she remains the most senior member of St. Clement – St. Michael. We treasure her and are so thankful to the good Lord for his blessings upon her, which in turn blesses us.”
“She’s my favorite thing about the parish! I especially enjoy and look forward to our ‘gig’ every Christmas Eve at 4 p.m., when I sing the vigil she plays.”
Among those on hand to honor her was District Attorney Michael E. McMahon, who said, “For 70 years, Josephine Giordano has blessed the ears and hearts of Staten Islanders with her talents as the organist of the St. Clement and St. Michael parish.
“Not only is this Platinum Jubilee a momentous historical occasion, but it is a uniquely joyous moment, duly calling for celebration. May we all be inspired by Josephine’s unwavering dedication, faith and inspiring proclamation to never stop singing.”
District Attorney Michael E. McMahon presents a certificate of recognition to Josephine Giordano at a celebration marking her 70th anniversary as organist and choir master at St. Michael’s R.C. Church in Mariners Harbor on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (Owen Reiter for the Advance/SILive.com)Owen Reiter
Borough President Vito J. Fossella marked the occasion by proclaiming Feb. 7, 2026, as “Josephine Giordano Day” on Staten Island.
Fosella said, “Mariners Harbor is a special place with deep roots and family connections. I’m here as a surrogate for my grandparents, who came from Italy, to say thank you for your beautiful service not just to this parish, but to Staten Island, and being a role model and an example for generations of people to just shine.”
Fossella drew a round of laughter when he explained that he took organ lessons when he was 7 years old. “I used to come home and play and try to sing Italian songs for my grandmother, but I couldn’t sing, so she had a beautiful way of saying, Vito, Vito, just play.”
Fossella told Giordano, “You had a great saying in the church earlier, keep singing, so let’s all keep singing together for you.”
While raising her family, Giordano furthered her education, taking courses in music composition at both The Juilliard School and the Guilmant Organ School. She also spent about 20 years as a music teacher at St. Teresa’s School in Castleton Corners.
Giordano’s five daughters graduated from St. Teresa School. Her youngest daughter, Elena DiTringo, said, “It was a thrill having our mom as our music teacher. It was the best class of the day! Whenever we were out, and mom got noticed by former students, they would start singing one of the joyful songs that she taught. Her music was always fun, uplifting, and rhythmic.”
Her dedication to her craft is legendary. Last December, Giordano broke her wrist after slipping on the ice. Just one week later, on Dec. 24, she played Midnight Mass with her hand in a cast. On another occasion, when the organ failed during a confirmation Mass with the bishop present, she seamlessly led the choir a cappella through the entire service.
After seven decades, Giordano’s passion remains undimmed. “I love it. I love what I do. I love being here,” she said with enthusiasm. “It’s not a drudgery.”
Despite occasional questions about retirement or training a successor, she is content to continue as long as possible. With weekly rehearsals and Sunday Masses now comprising her schedule, she maintains it’s “easy” to keep going.