Early life Joseph Pernicone was born on November 4, 1903, in
Regalbuto,
Sicily, to Salvatore and Petronilla (née Taverna) Pernicone. He received his early preparation for the priesthood at the
seminaries in
Nicosia and
Catania in Italy. Pernicone immigrated to the United States in 1920. He continued his studies at
Cathedral College in
New York City and
St. Joseph's Seminary in Yonkers, New York.
Priesthood Pernicone was ordained to the
priesthood in New York City by Auxiliary Bishop
John Joseph Dunn for the Archdiocese of New York on December 18, 1926. After his 1926 ordination, the archdiocese assigned Pernicone as
curate at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Yonkers. In 1944, after 12 years at Our Lady in Poughkeepsie, Pernicone was named pastor of
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in the
Bronx. The Vatican elevated Pernicone to the rank of
papal chamberlain in 1945 and
domestic prelate in 1952.
Auxiliary Bishop of New York On April 6, 1954, Pernicone was appointed
auxiliary bishop of
New York and
titular bishop of
Hadrianopolis in Honoriade by
Pope Pius XII. He received his
episcopal consecration on May 5, 1954, from Cardinal
Francis Spellman, with Auxiliary Bishops
Joseph Francis Flannelly and
Edward Vincent Dargin serving as
co-consecrators, at
St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan. During his tenure as an auxiliary bishop, Pernicone also served as pastor of Holy Trinity Parish in Poughkeepsie and
episcopal vicar of
Dutchess and
Putnam Counties in New York State.
Death and legacy After reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75, Pernicone retired as auxiliary bishop on November 28, 1978.He died from a
stroke on February 11, 1985, at
Jacobi Hospital in the Bronx at age 81. ==References==