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A piece of history of the Vocationist presence in U.S.A. went away last Friday, August 24th, 2007, with the returning to the house of the Heavenly Father of Fr. Mario Muccitelli, SDV. Fr. Mario, son of Luigi and Francesca Muccitelli, was born in S. Giorgio a Liri, Frosinone, in Italy, on July 16, 1923. He joined the Vocationist Fathers and Brothers at Pianura in 1936, where the Founder, Venerable Fr. Justin M. Russolillo, was living; he did his first religious vows on November 12, 1944 in the hands of Fr. Justin and on March 28, 1948, he was ordained a priest in Naples, in Italy. Soon after his ordination, in 1949, Fr. Mario was sent to Rome, in Via Cortina D’Ampezzo, our actual Vocationist Fathers and Brothers headquarters, to establish one of our first residences in the eternal city. In November 1950, he joined the Vocationist mission in Brazil with a group of Vocationist students of theology. In this group of former Vocationist students, I would like to remember Fr. Vincent Angiuoni well known at Perpetual Help during the “70”, Fr. Gerardo Longobardi that died last year in Italy and Fr. Vincenzo Russo, who was just buried last Saturday in Pianura, Naples, in Italy. In Brazil, Fr. Mario did ap[ostolate in Salvador, in the state of Bahia, establishing an orphanage for over 200 students. In 1957, Fr. Mario came to U.S.A. and worked at the Parish of Regina Pacis in Brooklyn, N.Y. After many contacts with several U.S.A. Bishops to establish a Vocationist presence in their Dioceses, Fr. Mario with the help of the then Superior General, Fr. John Galasso, was welcomed by the late and saintly Archbishop Thomas Boland in Newark. Fr. Mario and the Vocationist Fathers and Brothers were asked to minister to the Spanish speaking community of the city of Newark. In 1962, Fr. Mario and the late Fr. Thomas Adinolfi founded the first Vocationist house in U.S.A. at 196 Broad Street in Newark, NJ. From that little residence the Vocationist started to minister to the spiritual and social needs of the numerous Spanish speaking people of the area. Gradually, the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Center was ctreated and in 1967 it was made a Parish with Fr. Mario has its first Pastor. In 1967, through the help of Fr. Mario, the FOCUS program (Field Orientation Center for Underprivileged Spanish) started and he did also arrangements for the coming in U.S.A. of the first group of the Vocationist Sisters, who soon started the Perpetual Help Day Care Center in Newark. Many, in Newark, knew Fr. Mario Muccitelli as the untiring and wonderful priest, who was working with the Spanish community giving it great assistance and dedication in finding jobs and getting better housing, giving out food for the poor and clothes for the less fortunate. In 1977, Archbishop Peter Gerety made Fr. Mario Pastor of St. Michael’s church, entrusting the care of the Parish to the Vocationist Fathers and Brothers. Happily, the growing Spanish community moved to the new Parish of St. Michael. The left space at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish became extra area for a larger Nursery School already entrusted to the tender care of the Vocationist Sisters since 1967. Also St. Michael’s church became a place for many projects for the people. Gradually, St. Michael’s School became one of the largest and most efficient Catholic School in the Archdiocese and in the State. Fr. Mario and the Vocationist converted the Cenacle Convent into a Rectory, demolished the old Rectory creating St. Jude’s Garden and refurbished St. Michael’s School to provide better educational programs for the children, especially the underprivileged ones. Fr. Mario never forgot the poor, establishing an emergency food distribution to the poor and an Archangel Clinic for the needy. With the help of many friends and benefactors, in 1989, Fr. Mario set up the Shepherds of Youth Trust to support the religious, educational and social endeavours of the Vocationist community and the children committed to their care. Thank you to all of you part of this special project! With great dedication and conviction, Fr. Mario led the efforts to build the Fr. Justin Russolillo’s Vocationary in Florham Park and with the help of many generous benefactors the first Vocationary in U.S.A. was opened in May 1989, as a place of preparation for those seeking to follow a vocation to the priesthood and religious life. The last years of Fr. Mario’s earthly life were of sicknesses and pains. The man of many projects for the underprivileged ones was going through a slow earthly Purgatory. I would like to express our great gratitude to all those who were Fr. Mario daily brother, sister, friend, servant and nurse. In the name of our Superior General, Fr. Louis Caputo, SDV and the entire Vocationist Family all over the world, I greet our Vocationist brother Bishop Edgar Da Cunha, my confreres Priests and Brothers in U.S.A., the Vocationist Sisters, the Benefactors and Benefractresses here present. While we pray for our dears Fr. Vincent, Fr. Thomas, Fr. Ugo, Fr. Felix, Fr Josue, Sr. Adelina and Sr. Theresa, Fr. Mario’s brothers Emenio and Benedito, his sisters Elvira and Anna, his brother in law Ralph and his niece Tina, we express our deep sorrow to Fr. Mario’s sisters Concetta and Lucia, his nephews Ralph and his wife Monica, Lisa and Steve and his grandnephews Justin, Joseph, Lillian and Adriana. While we express our deep gratitude to the Almighty God, the Blessed Virgin Mary and our Founder, Fr. Justin for Fr. Mario and his many years of dedicated, humble and loving service, we ask the Heavenly Father to send more, more labourers in his Vineyards. Our Vocationist Family and the Church at large need more holy priests and fervent religious. “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 8:38-39) Amen!!!! Queridos hermanos y hermanas en Cristo Jesus, Maria y Jose La comunidad hispana a perdido con el Padre Mario Muccitelli un gran amigo, servidor, hermano y Padre. Yo estoy aqui para otorgarles a ustedes algunas palabras de consolacion de parte del Padre General, P. Luis Caputo y de la comunidad de los Padres y Hermanos y de las Hermanas Vocacionistas y de las Apostoles Vocacionistas de la Santificacion Universal de alrededor del mundo. ¡Cuantos proyectos fueron manajados por el Padre Mario! Y cuantas personas han sido ayudadas por el Padre Mario en cada dia de su vida con su consejos espirituales. El Padre Mario nunca se olvidò que la ayuda espiritual iba acompañada siempre de una ayuda material a la vez. Creo que varios de nosotros tenemos que dar gracias a Dios por la vida del Padre Mario y desear que muchas personas mas puedan ayudar a los pobres y a los desprivilegiados como el hizo. Gracias a ustedes por su participacion a esta misa y por favor recuerdense siempre de rezar por el alma del Padre Mario y por nosotros Vocacionistas en los Estatos Unidos y alrededor del mundo! Gracias a todos ustedes! |
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2007 Vocationist Fathers |
