Our Clergy & Staff
Our Clergy
Parish Staff
Parish Office
Mrs. Ileana Iglesias
Parish Office Manager
Administrative Assistant to the Pastor
954-436-7944 x207
Religious Education
Mr. Ramiro Obrador
Head Sacristan
Religious Education Administrative Assistant
954-436-7944 x214
Facilities
Music Ministry
Rev. Albert Lahens, Jr.
Pastor
Born in Miami in 1964, Father Albert Lahens, Jr. is the first born child to Cuban refugees who were forced to flee the destructive grip of communism in the early 1960s and settled in South Florida. He called Saint Dominic in Miami home while growing up, often found involved in youth and music ministries.
Obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Miami, Father Albert entered seminary in his early 20s with attendance to St. John Vianney College Seminary and St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach. He served as a Transitional Deacon at St. Mark in Southwest Ranches before being ordained to the priesthood on May 13, 1995.
Since 2010, Father Albert has called St. Edward his home. He has served as Parochial Vicar of multiple parish communities including Immaculate Conception in Hialeah (1995-1998), Little Flower in Hollywood (1998-2000), St. John Neumann in Miami (2000-2004) and San Isidro Mission in Pompano Beach (2004-2010). Father Albert was assigned to St. Edward on July 1, 2010 originally assisting Rev. Msgr. Michael J. Eivers.
Shortly after the outbreak of COVID-19 in March 2020, Father Albert was appointed Vicar Econome. He resumed his regular duties in late May 2020 with the return of Rev. John Peloso until his retirement a year later. On June 14, 2021 Father Albert was appointed Parochial Administrator by Archbishop Thomas Wenski.
Father Albert was formally installed as the third Pastor of St. Edward Catholic Parish on September 14, 2024 by Archbishop Wenski.
Rev. John Aduseh Poku
Parochial Vicar
Born and raised in Ghana, Father John Aduseh Poku is originally from the Diocese of Konongo-Mampong. He holds multiple degrees in theology, philosophy, geography, economics and government. Within Ghana, Father John has served a variety of roles including as Associate Administrator at St. Paul's Cathedral in Mapong Ash, a member of the Diocesan Liturgical Commission and Chairman of the Diocese Justice & Peace Commission.
In the early 2000s, Father Aduseh Poku came to the United States to continue his education in the New York area. He obtained a Master’s in Systematic Theology from St. John’s University and a Doctorate in Pastoral Counseling from Hebrew Union University, New York. Within the United States, Father John has served in the Diocese of Rockville Centre, New York and the Diocese of St. Augustine, Florida. His previous service has also included work in dioceses located throughout the world including Malta, Scotland and the United Kingdom.
Father John came to the South Florida region in 2018. He has previously served as the Parochial Vicar at St. Hugh Catholic Church & School in Coconut Grove. Since May 2021, Father John has served as a member of the faculty and Chaplin at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Ft. Lauderdale. He was appointed by Archbishop Wenski to our community starting June 6, 2022.
Deacon Carl Cramer, Ed. D.
Permanent Deacon
Deacon Carl Cramer was born in 1954 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Baptized the following year at St. Stephen Church, he would call the parish of St. Raphael in Crystal, Minnesota home in his youth. Deacon Carl holds Doctorate in Education completed in 1990 from Kansas State University with a specialization in Curriculum & Instruction. He met his future wife, Vicki, while attending graduate school at the university and married in 1987. They have one child.
Deacon Carl was retained as a Professor in Sports Medicine and Athletic Training at Barry University in Miami Shores in 1990. He has over forty-four years of experience in Athletic Training Clinical Practice and Education ranging from the lecture hall to football fields to even the Olympics. Dr. Cramer retired in 2020 from Barry University as an Associate Dean and Professor Emeritus of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.
Joining the parish community of St. Edward in 1995, he started his service as a cantor in the music ministry. Deacon Carl has also assisted with Baptism Formation, Life in the Spirit Seminars, Social Justice Cluster and as a Marriage Tribunal Advocate. He has served as a Lector and Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion.
After three years of prayer and discernment, Carl Cramer applied and in 2001 was accepted into formation. He was ordained to the Order of Deacon at the Cathedral of St. Mary by Archbishop Favalora on June 11, 2005. Assigned to St. Edward, his ministry today includes continued work as a Tribunal Advocate, Marriage Formation and management of the parish’s
Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA)
program.
Deacon Ramon C. Palacio
Permanent Deacon
Deacon Ramon Palacio was born in Puerto Padre, Cuba, and has lived in South Florida since 1962. He has been a member of the St. Edward community since 2014. Prior to calling St. Edward home, Deacon Ramon and his family attended Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Hialeah. His wife, Maggie, worked at the parish school for eighteen years, and their three children attended Immaculate Conception Catholic School and Monsignor Pace High School. Ramon and Maggie have been married since 1978 and have four grandchildren, each following the parochial school path to further their Catholic faith and education.
Professionally, Ramon is a Florida Bar licensed attorney, and is Board Certified in Condominium and Planned Development Law, focusing his practice on the representation of condominium and homeowners’ associations throughout Florida. He holds a Juris Doctor from Nova Southeastern University; a Master’s in Management with a Concentration in Human Resources from American Public University; and a Master of Arts in Theological Studies from St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary.
Ramon has a long history in community service, including over three decades as a police officer with the Hialeah Police Department, and decades with the United States Air Force Auxiliary, Civil Air Patrol, where he has been involved in the cadet program and emergency services, including search and rescue and post-hurricane relief.
Ramon graduated from the Archdiocese of Miami School of Lay Ministry in 2017 and has served the St. Edward community first as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, then as Sacristan while discerning his calling to the diaconate. He’s also served on the Parish Council, Finance Council, and is a member of the Abide prayer ministry. After two years of prayer and discernment, he entered the diaconate formation program in 2020, was ordained to the Order of Deacon at the Cathedral of St. Mary by Archbishop Wenski on December 13, 2025, and was assigned to St. Edward.
