Fr. Domenic Landro was born in Parghelia, Province of Vibo Valentia in the Italian region Calabria, Italy in1861.At the age of 24, Fr. Landro left his native Italy to minister to the Italian immigrants in Scranton, PA.
Fr. Landro came to Diocese of Scranton succeeding Fr. Peter Bondi,(1891-1893) as pastor of the Italian Mission of the Diocese of Scranton. Fr. Landro performed his first baptism on July 17, 1894. Under his leadership, the Italian Mission in Scranton quickly grew in numbers. Fr. Landro's care for the Italian community could be found in all aspects of life. He even started the Italian Catholic society, a benevolent society to assist families in need due to illnesses or death.
Under his leadership the Italian Mission in Scranton outgrew the chapel at St. Thomas College (now the University of Scranton) and moved to its new home on Chestnut St. (today St. Frances Cabrini Ave.) in West Scranton. Under Fr. Landro's untiring leadership the Italian Mission of the Diocese of Scranton became St. Lucy's Church in 1900. St. Lucy's Church, as the successor of the Italian Mission, continued the Mission's work throughout the diocese making St. Lucy's Church the Mother Italian Church of the Diocese of Scranton.
With the help of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, who made six visits to Scranton, not only did the Italian Mission become St. Lucy's Parish but its school was opened and staffed by Mother Cabrini's sisters, the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart in 1901.
Fr. Landro proved to be an energetic missionary to the Italian communities of Northeastern Pennsylvania. Fr. Landro traveled to Wellsboro, Elkland, Williamsport, Hazleton and other areas where Italians had settled.
Fr. Landro also founded these Italian parishes in the Diocese: Saint Mary, Old Forge; Saint Anthony, Freeland; Mother of Sorrows, Williamsport; St. Mary Assumption, Jessup; St Mary, Lattimer Mines; Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Carbondale; St. Anthony’s Dunmore; and Our Lady of Heaven, Most Precious Blood, Holy Rosary and Mother of Sorrows in Hazleton, PA.Fr. Landro also helped smaller Italian communities integrate into existing territorial parishes.
In 1908 Fr. Landro was transferred to Hazleton, Pa. where he became the first pastor of Most Precious Blood. Fr. Landro helped organize this community and now prepared to build the parish church. Fr. Dominick Landro died on March 26, 1929 as pastor if Most Precious Blood in Hazelton. He was 68 years old. Funeral arrangements were made by the Turnback Funeral Home. The Solemn High Funeral Mass was celebrated by Bishop Thomas C. O'Rielly, D.D., Bishop of Scranton. Many priests and laity attended his funeral. Fr. Landro was laid to rest in St. Gabriel's Cemetary, Hazelton, Pa.
(Compiled from parish histories and the internet)
Rev Anthony Samuel Cerruti
A large group of Italians settled in Carbondale, PA., in the late 1800’s attracted by the rapid growth of the coal industry and other opportunities brought about by a new life in America.However, as Hayden’s Genealogy of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys states, “for many years they have been deprived of that spiritual care and instruction which the mother church bestowed on them in their own country.”
The Italians in the Diocese of Scranton were ministered to by the pastors and assistants of the Italian Mission of the Diocese of Scranton from 1873 to 1901.The Italian Mission met at St. Thomas College chapel.Today it is the University of Scranton. In 1901 the Italian Mission moved to the West Side of Scranton and became St. Lucy’s Parish. By 1900 the Italians in many areas of the diocese had become prosperous enough to build their own churches.Fr. Dominick Landro, the pastor of the Italian Mission and then St. Lucy’s Parish, working with the Trustees* had begun the construction of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Carbondale with the excavation for the foundation in 1899. However, Fr. Landro was also in the process of founding seven other Italian parishes throughout the diocese, especially in Hazleton and vicinity which was not an easy trip in 1900. Until Fr. Landro could receive help there would be a delay in building Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church. The prayers of the Italians in the Carbondale area and of Fr. Landro were answered when Fr. Anthony Samuel Cerruti came to St. Lucy’s Parish in 1900.After only four months at St. Lucy’s Parish, Fr. Cerruti was sent by Fr. Landro to complete the erection of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church.
Fr. Cerruti was a native of Campagna, Italy, born on July 31, 1852according to his naturalization record of 1 Oct 1909.He was educated in the prominent seminary located in his home town and ordained to the priesthood in 1875.After fifteen years of accomplished ministry in his home diocese, Fr. Cerruti immigrated to the United States through New York harbor aboard the SS Fenicia on Dec. 18, 1889. For three years he ministered in the local Italian parishes while mastering the English language.Fr. Cerruti was a gifted student and priest and was well received wherever he ministered. In 1892 Fr. Cerruti went to Roseto, Pennsylvania (south of Stroudsburg) to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Italian Church which was founded in 1897. After one year Fr. Cerruti then went to St. Anthony of Padua in Hammonton, New Jersey and ministered there until 1900 when he came to St. Lucy’s Parish. Being an accomplished and experienced administrator and priest, Fr. Cerruti was entrusted by Fr. Landro with erecting the new Carbondale parish of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.
Fr. Cerruti was at St. Lucy’s Parish only four months. As he had done in other places, Fr. Cerruti immersed himself into his ministry and into the lives of the Italians of Carbondale quickly endearing himself to them.Within a short time the foundation for a new edifice was poured and the beautiful church of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel took shape. As Hayden’s Genealogy of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys states; “His work has required patience and persistence, and through the exercise of these qualities he has attained commendable success. As a preacher, his sermons show painstaking thought and his illustrations are always to the point.”
Fr. Cerruti had to confront the problems of organized crime and the Trustee system* which was then in affect. The Trustees were lay people who held the deed of the parish and controlled all the finances of the parish and its sodalities.Fr. Cerruti was so loved he had little problem with the Trustees of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.
Fr. Cerruti and the other Italian priests of the diocese had to constantly be on guard against the infiltration of organized crime into the Trustee system.As the Italian parishes became affluent, their monies fueled the desire of organized crime to infiltrate the Trustee system.Fr. Cerruti became a crusader against the infiltration of the Black Hand and Mafia into the coal mines and parishes of Carbondale and the diocese.The following was noted in The Informer: History of American Crime and Law Enforcement, April 2011:“The Reverend Antonio Cerruti of Carbondale led an anti-Mafia crusade in northeastern Pennsylvania’s mining communities in the early 1900s.”On page 41 it states; “Carbondale’s Law and Order organization grew into the St. Joseph Protective Association.Reverend Antonino Cerruti, pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Carbondale, took a leading role in the association and worked to spread its influence through the Catholic churches in nearby communities.” By 1905, Fr. Cerruti's crusade against orgainzed crime led to the local Mafia leader, Sam Rita, ordering his "branding." This meant that the facial cheeks of Fr. Cerruti would be slashed, branding him an ememy of the Mafia forever. Thanks to the diligent efforts of local law enforcement this scheme never went beyond the planning stages as the gang was arrested during a planning and training session. Fr. Cerruti continued his campaign against the Mafia and Black Hand so well that on March 18, 1910 the they struck back by destoying Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church by arson. Fr. Cerruti tried to save the Holy Eucharist, however, was unable due to the rapid spread of the fire. This did not deter Fr. Cerruti efforts to thawrt the efforts of orgainized crime.
After a very commendable ministry in Carbondale, Fr. Cerruti retired in 1920.He died on Jan. 24, 1925 and was buried in St. Rose of Lima Cemetery in Carbondale, PA.
* Under the Trustee system, a group of lay people would petition the bishop for a pastor to work with them establish and build a Catholic parish.However, the Trustees controlled the building of the parish church and rectory, held the deeds for the parish buildings, signed all contracts, paid all employees and the priest, and controlled all the finances of the parish and its societies or sodalities. The system often led to tensions with the pastor who was in effect an employee of the Trustees even though appointed by the bishop.Often the personality and parish vision of the pastor clashed with the Trustees, especially if the Trustees objected to the content of the pastor’s preaching.The system was also inherently flawed with various forms of corruption such as granting contracts to Trustee family members, kick backs, and other unethical schemes. Then there was the pressure of organized crime that tried to infiltrate the Trustee System and profit from church monies. Also, the Trustee System sometimes split parishes in factions as each member vied for support and power. Large parish families could dominate the Trustee System and often did.Although many Trustees were devout and honest, the system itself had too many problems to continue.From the late 1800’s to the 1920’s the bishops in the United States ended the Trustee system.Today, the bishop holds all parish deeds and the pastors administer the parishes.
Reverend Cavaliere Federico Sbrocca
Fr. Federico Sbrocca was the assistant pastor of the St. Lucy’s Parish from 1901 to 1906.It was during this time period that Fr. Landro founded many Italian parishes in the diocese. While Fr. Landro traveled extensively throughout the diocese organizing Italian parishes and ministering to groups of Italian immigrants, Fr. Sbrocca was often left in charge of St. Lucy’s Parish for long periods of time.
Fr. Federico Sbrocca was born March 5, 1852 in Matrice, Italy (in the Province of Campobasso, in the Molise Region, just south of the Abruzzo Region).He received his early education in Pia Casa Dei Deaf of Naples where his brother Aurelio was Master and Deputy Director.Here Fr. Sbrocca learned to love the deaf children and would dedicate his life as a priest to them.
He was ordained a priest on April 1, 1876.Always a studious child, Fr. Sbrocca attended the Universita di Napoli and the Regia Scuola Normale de Milano graduating on July 24, 1886. Here he received his diploma to teach and work with deaf children.He and his brother Fr. Giovanni founded a school for the deaf in Oneglia in 1892.Because of its growth and the rising costs, they were forced to turn it over to the Province of Alessandria.In 1893, Fr. Federico became the first rector of the Provincial Institute for the Deaf of Alessandria; sometimes referred to as the Deaf Institute of Oneglia.Oneglia is just south of Alessandria, the capitol of the Province of Alessandria, in the Piedmont Region of northern Italy.Here, Fr. Sbrocca became well known as an author of books and journal articles as well as a noted speaker on the education of deaf children in Europe.
For his work with the deaf, Fr. Sbrocca was appointed a Knight [Cavaliere] of the Crown of Italy by King Umberto I in January of 1896.His books and publications became well known for advancing the cause of educating deaf youth throughout Europe and North America.
At the age of 49, Fr. Sbrocca immigrated to the United States in 1901 and came to the newly established St. Lucy’s Church, performing his first baptism on June 30, 1901.Fr. Sbrocca would probably have stayed in Oneglia, except for the changing political landscape in Alessandria.When an anti-Catholic political party took over in Alessandria, it outlawed all religious instruction at the Provincial School for the Deaf.Fr. Federico and Fr. Giovanni were dismissed.They immediately began a long protracted legal battle in the courts of Italy to reinstate religious instruction in the Provincial Institute.
On September 30, 1903 Fr. Sbrocca applied for United States' citizenship.In July of 1906, after a bitter fight with the Trustees of St. Lucy’s Parish*, Fr. Sbrocca left the Diocese of Scranton and went to the Diocese of Buffalo to work among the Italian immigrants. He served at St. Roch, Hulberton, N.Y. becoming the pastor in 1908.From August 1910 to June 1911 he served as pastor of St. Joseph’s Church in Leroy, N.Y.In June of 1911 Fr. Sbrocca became pastor of St. Joseph’s Church in Niagara Falls, N.Y. and stayed there until October of 1915.As the parish grew in numbers, Fr. Sbrocca paid off the existing debt and in 1913 built the present magnificent brick church which replaced a small, wooden structure.Fr. Sbrocca also built the parochial school.
After a much needed rest and having won his battle in the Italian Supreme Court, Fr. Sbrocca, at the age of 67, returned to Italy in 1915; to Oneglia, to his first love, the deaf children.After retirement he resided in Rome. Fr. Sbrocca was furthere honored by having a street named in his honor in his home town of Matrice. The Pope also bestowed upon Fr. Sbrocca a great honor. He was elevated to Mitred Archpriest. We do not know when Fr. Sbrocca died, however, in the program of the 40th Anniversary of St. Joseph’s Church, Niagara Falls, N.Y. in 1943, he was listed as deceased.
We wish to thank Bernard Stefanovich for doing the research on Fr. Sbrocca.
* Until the 1910’s the finances of a parish were controlled, not by the pastor, but solely by a committee of laity called Trustees. Due to widespread corruption, the infiltration of organized crime and growing tensions with pastors, this system became untenable. This system was replaced beginning in the late 1890’s to the present system where the pastor is the financial administrator of the parish. It was not always an easy transition and some ethnic parishes left the Catholic Church.
Rev. Victor Gurisatti (1908-1927)
Reverend Victor Gurisatti
Rev. Victor Gurisatti, pastor of St. Lucy’s Italian Church, West Scranton from 1908-1927 died in Mount Hope Hospital, Baltimore, Md. on Tuesday, May 26, 1931. Father Gurisatti, who had been in ill health for a number of years was forced to give up his pastorate at St. Lucy’s for this reason and had since been under medical treatment at interval. The body will be taken to this city and will lie in state in St. Lucy’s church
Fr. Gurisatti was born July 25, 1866 in Genona [now Gemona del Fruili] , Province of Udine, Italy 55 miles from Trieste. [Today it is called Gemona del Friuli.] He was ordained in Nov. 1890 for the Congregation of the Sacred Stigmata of Our Lord Jesus Christ – the Stigmatines. Fr. Victor Gurisatti emigrated from Italy in 1907, leaving Paris on the ship Hamburg and arrived at Ellis Island, N. Y. In 1908 he arrived in Scranton to set up a house for the Stigmatines. Bishop Michael J. Hoban, D.D. appointed Fr. Gurisatti pastor of St. Lucy’s Church in 1910. For the next 17 years, Fr. Gurisatti labored to build the magnificent church edifice that still stands today. Fr. Gurisatti also saw the parish school more than double in size during his tenure. Before his death, Fr. Gurisatti left the Stigmatines and was incardinated into the Diocese of Scranton.
Bishop Thomas C. O’Reilly celebrated the requiem Mass on Friday, May 29, 1931, in St. Lucy’s Italian Catholic Church for Rev. Victor Gurisatti.
The Rev. Francis Molino, Hazleton, was deacon, and the Rev. Gaetano Cassibba, Carbondale, was subdeacon. The archpriest was the Rev. Eugene Cherlone, O.S.J., Pittston. The divine office was chanted by Monsignor Humberto Rocchi.
Other officers of the Mass were the Rev. Vincent Mazzucco, O.S.J., Pittston, thurifer; the Rev. William Crotti, Dunmore, and the Rev. Henry Lucchi, Hazelton, acolytes; the Rev. Enrico Giovetto, O.S.J., book bearer, and the Rev. Quirino Rauzi, miter bearer.
The honorary pallbearers were: the Rev. James Lavezzari, Old Forge; the Rev. Daniel Leona, Scranton; the Rev. Clement Cavalletti, Jessup; the Rev Michael DeSarno, Dunmore; the Rev. Joseph Gotti, Hazleton; the Rev. John Reggio, O.S.J., Pittston; the Rev. Nabrario DeScianni, Lattimer, and the Rev. Arcangelo D’Anca, Wilkes Barre.
The acting pallbearers were Vincent Russoniello, A.N. Russo, Angelo Ferrario, Antonio Caputo, Louis Caputo, Charles Masucci, Nicola LaManna and James Arigoni.
Interment was made in the priest’s plot at Cathedral Cemetery. Photo courtesy of the Scranton Times-Tribune.
The Scranton Republican, Saturday, May 30, 1931
Scranton Times, Tuesday, May 26, 1931
Various internet sources.
Reverend James A. Boland (1926-1928)
Father James Aloysius Boland: Administrator 1926 - 1928
Father Boland was born in Archbald on November 10, 1886, the son of the late James and Anne Killeen Boland. He attended Olyphant public schools, St. Thomas College (now the University of Scranton), St. Bonaventure College and Seminary, and the North American College, Rome, Italy. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 15, 1915 by the late Bishop Michael J. Hoban.
In 1926 Fr. Gurisatti became ill and eventually resigned as pastor of St. Lucy’s Parish in 1927. Fr. Boland was appointed Administrator in 1926 and for two years ministered to the needs of the parish. Fr. Boland was loved by all. His gentle manner and constant concern for his flock marked his priesthood until he died.
In 1928 Fr. Francis P. Valverde was appointed pastor of St. Lucy’s Parish and Fr. Boland was appointed pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Taylor, PA. Over a period of ten years the people of Taylor were shepherded by this gentle and loving priest. Fr. Boland was one of the best known priests of the diocese.
In the beginning of 1938 Fr. Boland became ill with pneumonia. He recuperated with his brother Msgr. Patrick J. Boland in Florida, in an effort to regain his strength. He was expected to make a full recovery. However, after returning a few weeks, he suffered a relapse and died of cardiac arrest in the rectory on Friday, March 25, 1938.
At 3:00 p.m. the Sunday, March 27th, his body was transferred from the rectory to the church, where it lay in state until services on Monday morning. An honor guard was formed by the members of the Holy Name Society.
Survived by three brothers, Msgr Patrick Boland, Dr Frank Boland of Yeadon & Joseph Boland of Philadelphia; 1 sister, Mrs Louis Toolan of Carbondale.
Bishop William J. Hafey, with many priests of the diocese, celebrated his funeral Mass on Monday, March 28, 1938 Immaculate Conception, Taylor. Fr. Boland is buried in St. Thomas Cemetery, Archbald.
Photo courtesy of the Scranton Times-Tribune
Msgr. Francis P. Valverde (1928-1936)
Msgr. Valverde Succumbs at 73; Ill long time Pastor Emeritus of St. Lucy's Church Ordained in 1899
Very Rev. Msgr. Francis P. Valverde, 73, pastor emertius of St. Lucy's Church, West Scranton, and one of the oldest priests of the Diocese of Scranton, died today [Dec. 14, 1949] shortly before 11 A.M. at the home of his nephew, Joseph Valverde, 1534 Capouse Ave. [Scranton, Pa.].
Monsignor Valverde, whose priestly career spanned almost a half century, would have observed the golden jubilee of his ordination to the priesthood Dec. 23.
An indefatigable worker throughout his years of service in the Scranton Diocese, Monsignor Valverde retired form the active pastorate of St. Lucy's Church 13 years ago because of ill health. Although he had been hospitalized several times in recent years and was discharged a month ago from St. Mary's Hospital, his death today, attributed to a heart condition, came as a shoock to his hundreds of friends among the clergy and laity of this diocese.
Widely known as an accomplished educator, linguist and untiring charitable worker, Monsignor Valverde was regarded with love and admiration particularly by the older Italian residents of this area, among whom he began his diocesan work while visiting relatives in this city 45 years ago.
A native of Borgetto, Scicily, a suburb of Palermo, Monsignor Valverde was born March 7, 1877, a son of Mariano and Antonina Valverde.
He received college and seminary training at Monreale Seminary, Scilicy, and ordained Dec. 23, 1899, at the Cathedral of Monreale. Only 22 years old at the time, the young priest was granted a special dispensation by Pope Leo XIII for his ordination. Church regulations required that a seminarian must be 24 years old before ordination.
Following two years of post graduate study at the Royal College DeCosmi, Sicily, during which he founded a boys school on Palermo, Monsignor Valverde came to Scranton with his mother to visit his brother, the late Joseph Valverde of the Capouse Ave. address, and his sister, Mrs. Giovanna Genovese, who still resides in Scranton. Besides his mother he was accompanied at that time by another sister, the late Mrs. Maria C. Florey, mother of Msgr. Salvatore J. Florey, pastor of St. Lucy's Church and Rev. Myron C. Florey assistant pastor of the same church.
First Pastorate in Freeland
The visit, orginally scheduled for six months, became permanent after Monsignor Valverde met the late Bishop Michael J. Hoban, the diocesan prelate.
Bishop Hoban urgently in need of Italian speaking priests to work among the thousands of Italian immigrants from Italy then settling in the Diocese, interested the young priest in remaining in the Scranton Diocese and received permission from the Church authorities in Italy for the change.
Monsignor Valverde's first assignment was at St. Anthony's Church, Freeland, where he remained from June 1, 1904 to March 27, 1906.
He then was appointed pastor of St. Anthony's in Dunmore and remained in that capacity until Sept. 8, 1928, when he was transferred to St. Lucy's Church.
Duuring his early years in the diocese, Monsignor Valverde came in for special commendation form Bishop Hoban who credited him with "doing the work of three men." For a number of years he served on the foreign language staff of the International Correspondence Schools, where he composed a grammer and reader of the Italian language.
While at St. Anthony's and St. Lucy's, Monsignor Valverde was responsible for the construction of a rectory in each parish.
He served as a member of the Diocesan Board of Consulters for a number of years and on Sept 23, 1929, was named chamberlain of the Papal Court and elevated to the rank of Very Reverend Monsignor by Pope Pius XI.
Several years later his health began to fail, and on May 3, 1936, Monsignor Valverde was forced to resign his duties as active pastor of St.Lucy's, a parish where his two nephews now carry on his work.
In addition to his sister, Mrs. Genovese, and his three nephews, Mr. Valverde, Monsignor and Father Florey, Monsignor Valverde is survided by a number of nieces and nephews, many of the latter prominient in the business and professional fields in Scranton and other communities.
The funeral will be from St. Lucy's Church Saturday with a Mass at 10:30 a.m. following a recitation of the Divine Office at 10 A. M. Buriel will be in the priests' plot, Cathedral Cemetery.
Photo courtesy of the Scranton Times-Tribune
12/14/1949 Scranton Times
Msgr. Salvatore Florey (1938-1973)
Pastor Emeritus
Msgr. Florey Buried form St. Lucy’s 'Church
Scranton -- Monsignor Salvatore Florey, 78, pastor emeritus of St. Lucy's Church, Scranton, was buried from his parish church on Wednesday, October 10, at 11:00 a.m., with a Pontifical Concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial. Bishop James C. Timlin was principal celebrant. Monsignor Florey died on Sunday, October 7, in Mercy Hospital, Scranton, after an illness. . ' . . . . .
Concelebrants were Monsignor Mark Mecca, Monsignor Constantine Siconolfi; Father Paul Cottone, Father Girard Angelo, Father Carmen Perry, Father Anthony Palmasani, Father George Windsor and other priests in attendance. Father Julian Connor, CP, chaplain, St. Gabriel's Passionist Monastery, Clarks Summit was the homilist.Officers of the Mass included Father Alfred Vito, cross bearer; Father Martin Boylan and Father Mark Taffera, acolytes; Father Thomas Cappelloni, thurifer; Father Richard Polmounter, miter bearer; Father Cyril Edwards, book-bearer; Father Neil Van Loon and Father Dale Rupert, assistant masters of ceremonies; Father Francis Kulig, director of music.Transferal was held on Tuesday, October 9, at 7:00 p.m., with Monsignor RobertMcNulty, V.F., dean of Scranton - Lower Lackawanna, presiding.
Monsignor Florey was born in Scranton on December 25, 1905, the son of the late Francis and. Maria Valverde Florey. He attended local schools, St. Thomas College, now the University of Scranton, The University of Denver in Colorado, and the Roman Pontifical Seminary in Rome where he was ordained to the priesthood on December 7, 1933, by Cardinal Marchetti-Selvaggiani.
After serving as assistant pastor at St. Mary’s Old Forge, Monsignor was appointed administrator of St. Mary’s Assumption, Jessup, December 17, 1934. He later became pastor of this parish and held this post until September 9, 1938, at which time he was transferred to the pastorate of St. Lucy’s Scranton. He became pastor emeritus on September 4, 1973.
In 1943 he was appointed to the Board of Examiners of Junior Clergy and seminarians and three years later was named a diocesan consulter. On May 25, 1948, he was designated a Papal Chamberlain to Pope Pius XII and was elevated to Prelate of Honor on May 29, 1956.
Monsignor Florey observed his Golden Jubilee in the priesthood in December of 1983.
He is survived by a sister, Mrs. Rose Fiorani, Scranton, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Father Myron Florey and Dr. Peter Florey.
Interment was in Cathedral Cemetery.
10/11/1984 Scranton Times
Assistant Pastors to Monsignor Florey (1951 - 1973):
Rev. Anthony R. Tombasco Rev. Salvatore P. Oliviero Rev. Michael Penn Rev. F. Allen Conlon Rev. Charles J. Zazzera Rev. Gerard F. Angelo Rev. Andrew Gallia Rev. Luke Sylvester Rev. Kenneth Dolan Rev. Joseph Bucolo Rev. Maurice Raymond Rev. John A Esseff Rev. William Bellucci Rev. Albert Brogus Rev. Vincent Grimalia Rev. Peter Herhenreader
Diocese Mourns Father Cottone
Bishop Joseph F. Martino celebrated a Pontificial Mass of Christain Burial for Father Paul P. Cottone, on April 24, 2006, in St. Lucy's Church.
Father Cottone, pastor emertius of St. Lucy, died On April 19 after an illness. He was a resident of Greenridge Health Care Center, Scranton.
The Reverend Cottone, son of the late Salvatore and Colette Cottone, was born in Scranton on July 19, 1923. He was a graduate of Scranton Central High School. He began his studies for the priesthood at the University of Scranton and completed them at St. Peter's Seminary, London, Ontario, Canada, and Christ the King Seminary, St. Bonaventure, Olean, N. Y.
The Rev. Cottone was ordained to the priesthood in st. Peter's Cathedral, Scranton, Pa., on June 4, 1949, by the late Bishop William J. Hafey, D.D.
Following the ordination, the Rev. Cottone 's first assignment was as assistant pastor of St. Patrick's Church, Milford. From there he served as assistant pastor of St. Ignatius
Church, Kingston; Church of the Ephinany, Sayre; Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Peckville; and the Most Precious Blood, Hazelton. On September 14, 1996, he became the first pastor of the Church of St. Nazarius in Pardersville. Subsequently, he was appointed pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Carbondale and the Most Precious Blood where he also served as the Moderator of South East Luzerne Deanery Council of Catholic Men. On September 4, 1973, he bacame pastor of St. Lucy's Church where he remained until his retirement and appointment as pastor emeritus on July 25, 2002.
In 1971, he was appointed chaplain for UNICO International and served intermittantly as spiritual director of the Italian-American Charitable Organization for nine UNICO presidents.
Fr. Cottone is survived by two brothers, Judge S. John and Salvatore(Sam); and a sister Lillian, all of Scranton; and several neices and nephews. He was also preceeded in death by three brothers, Dr. Peter, Dr. Benjamin and Joseph; and three sisters Ida DeFilippis, Mary Noto, and Janet Cottone.
The evening before the funeral, a Vigil Mass was celebrated at St. Lucy's Church with Monsignor David L Tressler, V.F., presiding. Internment was in Cathedral Cemetary, Scranton, Pa.
The Catholic Light, (May 4, 2006, pg. 3)
Assistant Pastors to Father Cottone (1973 - 2002):
Rev. Vincent Grimalia Rev. Peter Herhenreader Rev. Samuel Ferretti Rev. Thomas Cappelloni Rev. Louis Grippe Rev. Joseph Saltry Rev. Thomas Yuen Rev. Joseph Motsay Rev. Patrick Genello Rev. John Kennan, S.J. Rev. Austin Flannagan Rev. Joseph Fanti Rev. Paul Eura Rev. Salvatore Bentivegna
Reverend John J. Chmil 2002-2005
REVEREND JOHN J. CHMIL
The Reverend John J. Chmil was born on June 20, 1966, son of Paul and Regina Ann Sharkey Chmil, in Ashley, Pennsylvania. He received his early education in Lyndwood Elementary School, Wilkes-Barre, and graduated from Hanover Area High School, in 1984.
Father Chmil attended St. Pius X Seminary in Dalton and the University of Scranton.In 1989, he received his bachelor’s degree in theology from King’s College, Wilkes-Barre, where he also minored in philosophy.
Father completed his preparatory studies for the priesthood at Immaculate Conception Seminary, Seton Hall University, South Orange, New Jersey, where he earned a master’s degree in pastoral ministry, in 1995.
Following his ordination on June 24, 1995, at Saint Peter’s Cathedral, Scranton, by the Most Reverend James C. Timlin, D.D., Bishop of Scranton, Father Chmil was assigned as Assistant Pastor at Saint Nicholas Church, Wilkes-Barre, on June 30, 1995.He remained in this assignment until July 6, 1999, when he was appointed Assistant Pastor at Saint Peter’s Cathedral, Scranton, and Secretary to Bishop Timlin.Father served in this capacity until July3, 2002, at which time he was named as Pastor of Saint Lucy’s Church, Scranton.In August, 2004, Father Chmil was also appointed Administrator of Saints Peter and Paul Church, Scranton.He was reassigned in the Fall of 2005. He is currently stationed at St. Peter's Church, Wellsboro, Pa.
Assistant Pastor to Father Chmil (2002 - 2005):
Rev. Thomas Yuen
"Our Current Pastor"
Reverend Sam J. Ferretti Jr. was born on May 10, 1947, in Pittston, PA, the son of Sam and Olga Ferretti. He attended Hughestown Grade School and St. John the Evangelist High School, Pittston, graduating in 1965.
After high school Rev. Ferretti attended King’s College where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology in 1970. Having entered St. Pius X Seminary, Dalton, Pa., Rev Ferretti was sent for theological studies to Christ the King Seminary, Bonaventure University, Olean, NY where he earned a Master’s Degree in Theology in 1974.
On May 18, 1974 he was ordained to the priesthood in St. Peter’s Cathedral, Scranton, PA., by Bishop J. Carroll McCormick, D.D., Bishop of Scranton. Rev. Ferretti served as assistant pastor at St. Ann’s Parish, Shohola (summer assignment), St. John the Evangelist Parish, Honesdale, St. Lucy’s Parish (1975-1976), St. Theresa’s Parish, Shavertown, and St Francis of Assisi, Scranton. Rev. Ferretti served as Administrator of St. Dominic’s Parish, Wilkes Barre; Blessed Sacrament Parish, Wilkes Barre and briefly at Sacred Heart Parish, Dupont.
In addition to his parish duties, Rev. Ferretti taught at the Honesdale Catholic Elementary School, Bishop Hannon High School, Scranton, Bishop O’Rielly High School, Kingston and Bishop O’Hara High School, Dunmore. From 1980 to 1982 Rev. Ferretti was also the hospital chaplain at NPW Hospital (now Geisinger), Plains, PA.
In 1985 Rev. Ferretti was given permission by Bishop James C. Timlin, D.D., Bishop of Scranton, to accept an officer’s commission in the U.S. Navy as a Catholic Chaplain. After attending the Naval Chaplain’s School in Newport, RI, Rev. Ferretti was ordered to duty with the USMC First Marine Air Wing, Futenma, Japan. Rev. Ferretti would serve at the Marine Corps Air Station, Iwakuni, Japan; Naval Weapons Station, Charleston, SC; Naval Air Station, Signolla, Sicily; USS AMERICA (CV66), Norfolk, VA; Chaplain Resource Board, Norfolk, VA; General’s Staff, Marine Corps Base Smedley D. Butler, Okinawa, Japan; Naval Hospital, Okinawa, Japan, and U.S. Coast Guard Training Center, Cape May, NJ.
In September 2005 Rev. Ferretti retired from U.S. Navy and returned to the Diocese of Scranton. He was appointed as the sixth pastor of St. Lucy’s Parish on October 1, 2005.
