Saint Joseph’s Seminary and College’s third annual gala raised $750,000 for the institution and honored two of the its most fervent supporters, Joanne and Manny Chirico. 

About 400 people attended the event, held at the Glen Island Harbour Club in New Rochelle.

Honored with the Archbishop Michael A. Corrigan Founder’s Medal were Joanne and Manny Chirico. An introductory video credited the couple, who originally met at St. Ann’s Church in the Bronx, with raising more than $750,000 for the seminary. The Chiricos attended the event with their three sons and their wives, along with two of their parents, both over 90 years old.

“Tonight is not about us, it’s about Saint Joseph’s Seminary, and the dedicated priests and deacons that serve our Church every day. It’s also about our future priests, the seminarian students that will serve our Church in the future,” said Manny Chirico in remarks at the event.

“Tonight we ask that you pray for vocations; pray that the young men who hear the call answer the call; and that Saint Joseph’s Seminary is here for many years to teach, encourage, and guide these young men on their journey to the priesthood,” said Joanne Chirico, following her and her husband’s reception of their award.

Special guests included His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York; Most Reverend Robert Brennan, Bishop of Brooklyn; Most Reverend John Barres, Bishop of Rockville Center; Bishop James Massa, Auxiliary Bishop of Brooklyn and rector of Saint Joseph’s Seminary; Auxiliary Bishop Edmund Whalen, Vicar for Clergy of the Archdiocese of New York; Monsignor Joseph LaMorte, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of New York; John Cahill, Chancellor of the Archdiocese of New York; and Sister Joan Curtin, Vicar for Religious of the Archdiocese of New York. Rob Astorino, broadcaster and former Westchester County Executive, served as master of ceremonies.

The evening featured performances by the Young People’s Chorus of New York City, and by Saint Joseph’s Seminary Schola Cantorum.

Saint Joseph’s Seminary and College, founded in 1896, is the Major Seminary of the Archdiocese of New York and the fifth educational institution of the archdiocese for the formation of Catholic priests. Archbishop Michael Corrigan laid the cornerstone in 1891, and the seminary accepted its first students five years later.