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CATHOLIC
Cardinal Dolan will ordain 10
men to the priesthood—six for the
Archdiocese of New York and four for
NEW YORK
AMERICA’S LARGEST CATHOLIC NEWSPAPER
the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal—
Saturday, May 29, at St. Patrick’s
Cathedral. Each of the ordinands is
profiled inside the 12-page special
May 20, 2021 Vol. XL, No. 18 $1.00
section that wraps the regular issue.
Chris Sheridan
TO BE ORDAINED—Eight members of the Class of 2021 at St. Joseph’s Seminary pose
on the Dunwoodie campus. From left, they are Father Frantisek Marie Chloupek, C.F.R.,
Father Ignatius Pio Mariae Doherty, C.F.R., Father Joseph Michael Fino, C.F.R., Father
Robert Carolan, Father Kevin Panameño , Father Elijah Marie Perri, C.F.R., Father Steven
N. Gonzalez and Father Matthew Breslin. All eight, plus Father Carmine Caruso and Fa-
ther Wesbee Victor, will be ordained to the priesthood by Cardinal Dolan at St. Patrick’s
Cathedral Saturday, May 29.
A2 CATHOLIC NEW YORK May 20, 2021
The Priesthood and Publishing
T
he special section wrapping around the
outside of this issue of Catholic New York
is close to our hearts. As you can see,
it features profiles about the 10 men Cardinal
Dolan will ordain to the priesthood at St. Pat-
rick’s Cathedral on Saturday morning, May 29.
A lot of preparatory work
and effort goes into produc-
ing a section such as this one,
especially this year. From our
end, all of our reporters and
editors get involved in the
reporting and writing of the
profiles. While we each bring
our own personal style to the
assignment, we try our best
to keep the focus where it
belongs—on the seminarians, now transitional
deacons, who in slightly more than a week will
be ordained to the priesthood.
We get a lot of help in turning out this par-
ticular product, especially from the leadership
and staff of St. Joseph’s Seminary, Dunwoodie,
where eight of this year’s ordinands completed
their formation for the priesthood. Of course,
that includes Auxiliary Bishop James Massa of
Brooklyn, the rector, and Father William Cleary,
Chris Sheridan
the vice rector, who for several years has helped
us to coordinate the interview schedule of the SPRING STROLL—The eight members of the Class of 2021 of St. Joseph’s Seminary enjoy a walk on
seminarians and facilitate the flow of basic the tree-lined Dunwoodie campus last month. In the front row, from left, are Father Kevin Panameño,
background questions to and from them. Father Robert Carolan and Father Steven N. Gonzalez. Cardinal Dolan will ordain all eight to the priest-
In years such as this one, when more men are hood at a Mass in St. Patrick’s Cathedral May 29.
being ordained, keeping everything running
smoothly is no small matter, so the seminar-
ians aren’t burdened with too many additional
responsibilities as graduation and ordination Cardinal to Ordain 10 Priests at Cathedral Mass May 29
nears and we are able to get the information Cardinal Dolan will ordain 10 men to the priesthood at a Mass in St. Patrick’s Cathedral at 9
and access we need to publish. a.m. on Saturday, May 29.
From CNY’s perspective, ordinations are an Six are being ordained as priests for the Archdiocese of New York, and four for the Francis-
important story, in terms of news and in the can Friars of the Renewal.
life of the archdiocese. It goes almost without The new archdiocesan priests are Father Matthew Breslin, Father Robert Carolan, Father Car-
saying at this point, but bears repeating, that we mine Caruso, Father Steven N. Gonzalez, Father Kevin Panameño and Father Wesbee Victor.
in the Archdiocese of New York and just about Being ordained for the Renewal Friars are Father Frantisek Marie Chloupek, C.F.R., Father
every other diocese in the United States could Ignatius Pio Mariae Doherty, C.F.R., Father Joseph Michael Fino, C.F.R., and Father Elijah Marie
use more priests. You can likely see the need Perri, C.F.R.
clearly in your own parish. Eight of the new priests completed their formation for the priesthood at St. Joseph’s Seminary
This section is one way we personally work in Dunwoodie. Father Carmine Caruso completed his priestly formation at Pope St. John XXIII
to counter that trend. We endeavor to deliver National Seminary in Weston, Mass., and Father Wesbee Victor completed his priestly formation
not only the basics about the new priests’ edu- at the Theological College of The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.
continued on page A11
CATHOLIC NEW YORK Vol. XL, No. 18
May 20, 2021
HOW TO REACH US DEADLINES
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May 20, 2021 CATHOLIC NEW YORK A3
First Priest From Highland Father Robert Carolan decided in
Parish Credits God 2015 to continue teaching in a different
role. The physical education teacher
Working Through Him in the archdiocese entered St. Joseph’s
Seminary in Dunwoodie and will be
Father Matthew Breslin knew at a young ordained a priest by Cardinal Dolan at
age as an altar server at daily Mass he felt an St. Patrick’s Cathedral May 29.
attraction and desire for the priesthood. “My first two years at Dunwoodie,
His father, Alex, had just lost a 10-year I was the book bearer for both ordi-
battle with brain cancer and Father Breslin nation Masses,” he told CNY. “I was
said becoming more involved with his parish right up front with the Cardinal as the
at St. Augustine in Highland helped him with guys were being ordained.
his grief and discernment to the priesthood. “Now, I’ll be on the other side. I
“He was diagnosed when my mother won’t be the book bearer, I will be
(Maureen) was pregnant with me and my the one getting ordained. Obviously,
sister (Megan, now Sister Mary Strength of you’re going to be excited, emotional.
Martyrs of the Servants of the Lord It’ll just hit you. Right now, we’re busy
and the Virgin of Matara) was 2 years chris sheridan with papers and getting things ready
old. It was inoperable, and they said for ordination.”
he wouldn't live to see me born. Father Carolan, 37, grew up in Yorktown
Miraculously, he lived 10 years after
that,” Father Breslin, who will be the Father Heights as one of four children of Robert and
Caryn Carolan. He has three sisters—Pam
first priest from St. Augustine’s parish
in its 121-year history, told CNY. Robert Leone, Christine Benson and Kim Fox—and
11 nephews and nieces.
“His life was a great lesson to me in
many ways. He was a great dad who
Carolan He attended Sunday Mass with his fam-
ily at St. Elizabeth
loved being a dad, loved his children Ann Seton Church A Good
and loved his wife. It was a lesson that in Shrub Oak where
I can apply to my priesthood in the Father Carolan will he was enrolled in Listener,
fatherly heart he had for my sister and celebrate his first the parish school for
I of wanting to spend every day with
Mass at St. Elizabeth
a few years before He Learned
us and fighting to stay alive as long as later graduating
he could. Ann Seton Church in from Yorktown High to Trust in
“My mom in my life is the epitome School. He earned
chris sheridan of self-sacrificial love. She was always
Shrub Oak on Sunday,
a bachelor's degree the Lord’s
May 30, at 3 p.m.
the rock of the family despite having this
horrible, horrible life scenario. She went Father Robert Quarato,
in applied sociology
from East Carolina Plans
Father from caring for her two children and dying
husband and then transitioned to now being
pastor of St. Elizabeth
University in North
Carolina and a master's in physical education
Matthew a single mother to children who no longer
have a father and really didn't miss a beat. I
Ann Seton parish, will in sports pedagogy from Manhattanville Col-
lege in Purchase.
Breslin still consider her one of my best friends.”
be the homilist.
Father Carolan said he first heard a calling
As a priest, Father Breslin is looking to the priesthood as a junior in high school,
forward to celebrating Mass, hearing confes- and his faith grew through college and as a
Father Breslin will sions, meeting people and being a “vehicle of physical education teacher for seven years at
God’s mercy and presence in the world.” He archdiocesan schools.
celebrate his first also hopes to remain involved in high school “The call was getting stronger and stron-
Mass Sunday, May ministries and retreats. ger,” said the native of Ridgewood, N.J. “The
“That age ministry really excites me be- Lord put some pretty big signs in my way
30, at 2 p.m. at St.
cause they are important years in someone’s that I knew he was calling me. It wasn’t until
Augustine Church life, and I didn’t lose the faith at that age 2015 that I finally told my parents.”
in Highland. Father because I had such great examples of the In the seminary, his apostolic assignments
faith,” he said. included two years at St. Christopher’s Inn,
Brian Graebe, pastor “They are not the future (of the Church). operated by the Franciscan Friars of the
of the Basilica of St. They are the present. They have the same Atonement at Graymoor in Garrison.
Patrick’s Old Cathedral desires and needs as anyone because ulti- “St. Christopher has a great reputation of
mately our desires all lead to God who is the rehabbing people and I think the big reason
in Manhattan, where fulfillment of every desire. He’s the one who is the faith aspect, where people realize that
Father Breslin served made our desires and he fulfills all of them.” we are body, mind and soul, and to have a
Father Breslin, 25, attended the parish spiritual light and to lean on an invisible
as a transitional school at St. Augustine before graduating force, and also the simple fact to know you’re
deacon, will be the from Our Lady of Lourdes High School. He loved by God, no matter what state in life
homilist. graduated from St. John’s University with a you are in, could really help with the road to
bachelor’s degree in philosophy and leaves recovery,” he said.
continued on page A9 continued on page A9
A4 CATHOLIC NEW YORK May 20, 2021
Father Father Caruso will celebrate his First Mass at Our Lady Star of the Sea
Church on Staten Island Sunday, May 30, at 2 p.m. Father Thomas
Carmine Caruso Devery, the pastor, will deliver the homily.
The earliest memory Father To him, “the priesthood is just the archdiocese.
Carmine Caruso has of being in the only profession out there that Hobbies have included baseball,
a church was around age 4, ac- can get into the human heart and bowling and amateur boxing. The
companying his late grandmother, into the soul and that’s what really latter, he explained, “brought great
Concetta Caruso, to St. Frances needs to be healed if we look out discipline and structure to my life,
Cabrini in Brooklyn. “It was a into the world… which is what faith does. You’re
mystique to me as a little boy,” he “You see some graces happen,” training to go out into battle. As a
said of watching her light candles he said, “and you just know that’s priest, you’re like a boxer.”
and pray before various statues not on human merits; that’s the He worked in the field of engi-
of saints after Mass. “I was just in grace of God at work.” neering from 2000 until entering
awe” and thought, “this is pretty He credits a missionary trip to the Cathedral Seminary House of
powerful.” Jamaica he made in 2015 with a Formation in Douglaston, Queens,
Background in “It showed me where she was men’s group from Our Lady of Pity in 2015, followed by Pope St.
going to the well—that was her parish on Staten Island as trans- John XXIII National Seminary in
Engineering, Boxing source for drawing upon her formative. “It gave me the courage Weston, Mass., in 2017.
strength. My grandmother bur- to respond and finally say ‘yes’ to Summer parish assignments
Will Help Him Build ied five out of six kids before she the call I had received but been were Our Lady of the Assumption
passed away” at age 78. putting off for quite some time,” he and St. Mary Star of the Sea in the
Up Church Now 43, his vocation to the said of their service work with the Bronx and St. Joseph and St. Mary
priesthood is an answer to the Missionaries of the Poor. After- Immaculate on Staten Island.
call “to love,” he said, “without ward, he contacted Father Enrique Born in Brooklyn, he is the son
any prejudice, without any bias.” Salvo, then vocations director for continued on page A9
Father Steven Father Gonzalez will celebrate his first Mass Sunday, May 30, at
10:30 a.m., at St. Lucy’s parish in the Bronx. The homilist will be
N. Gonzalez Father Luis Saldana, canonical spiritual director at the seminary.
Father Steven N. Gonzalez, a Gonzalez, adding that he became Magaly Gonzalez, both born in the
graduate of Cristo Rey New York more active at St. Lucy’s parish in Dominican Republic and residing
High School in Manhattan, likes the Bronx, his home parish. Priests in the Bronx, where Father Gon-
hiking on Bear Mountain and in there also played an influential zalez was born and raised. He is
the Catskills, and he enjoys play- role in his interest in the priest- the middle of three sons, between
ing board games, with Parcheesi a hood. As a youngster, his parents older brother Nestor, and Jona-
favorite. instilled the values of the Church. than, the youngest. The family par-
His focusing skills help him “I want to ultimately be an ish at the time was Sacred Heart in
excel in those pastimes. Soon they instrument of Jesus toward them the South Bronx.
will help him as he pays pastoral (the faithful),” he said of his Father Gonzalez holds a bach- chris sheridan
attention to the spiritual and sacra- planned approach to being a priest, elor’s degree in International Po-
mental needs of the faithful.
“I was 17 years old when the
adding that he will start each
morning alone in prayer, in prepa-
litical Economy and Development
from Fordham University, with a
Cristo Rey New
thought came across my mind,” ration for his pastoral service. minor in Spanish literature. From York High School
Father Gonzalez, 28, told Catholic “I want to start with Jesus and St. Joseph Seminary and College
New York in a phone interview, be able to introduce people to the in Dunwoodie, he holds master’s Alumnus Entering
as he discussed when he began to Lord. I am fluent in Spanish, so I degrees in Catholic Philosophi-
think about becoming a priest. He probably will be working a lot with cal Studies, Divinity and Arts and Priesthood
credited Jesuit priests he encoun- Hispanic ministry. But I am also Theology. He also holds a bach-
tered at Cristo Rey as a positive passionate about learning about elor’s in Angelicum Sacred Theol-
influence. different cultures, and learning ogy, a program of the Pontifical
“But it wasn’t until later in col- how Catholicism is spread within University of St. Thomas Aquinas
lege that I started getting more in- different cultural contexts.” administered by St. Joseph’s Semi-
volved in my faith,” recalled Father He is the son of Nestor and continued on page A9
May 20, 2021 CATHOLIC NEW YORK A5
New York-born Following in his trauma surgeon
Seminarian Sensed Path to father’s footsteps was not the calling
for Wesbee Victor, which was ap-
the Priesthood Early in Life parent to him after he observed and
subsequently fainted during a surgery
Father Kevin Panameño first realized he his adoptive father performed.
may want to be a priest when he was 13 years “I was in there for probably 10 min-
old. At age 31, that pursuit will become a utes,” he recalled of his time in the op-
reality. A young teen’s look into the future erating room, and was looking to leave
has arrived. amid “the cutting and the blood...I
“I started to pay more attention to the remember I told them, ‘Get me out of
readings during Mass,” Father Panameño here,’ and then I just passed out.”
told Catholic New York. He added that the Now 31, Victor was 18 at the time. He
virtues of service and bringing hope through then confided in his father his attrac-
the Good News became more appealing as tion to the priesthood since childhood.
a way to do God’s will. He said he was not He was 9 years old and an altar server
influenced by a particular priest, but when he asked his pastor, “What does
he did like the pastoral works of par- the priest do? And then when they
ish priests. are at the altar, why they do what they are
He was born in Manhattan and doing...I was just being a curious kid.”
raised in Memphis, Tenn., a reloca-
tion stemming from his father’s work Father Shadowing his father during surgery “was
a wake-up call for me; now, what do I want
as an airport employee. His childhood
church in Memphis was Resurrection Wesbee to do?” The following year, the family moved
from Florida to New York. Before the move,
parish. Father Panameño’s current par-
ish is Our Lady of Angels in the Bronx.
Victor Victor spoke to a priest in Tampa, Fla., and
later contacted Fa-
“It was the Gospel of John; it is ther Luke Sweeney
filled with so much mystery and it’s
Father Victor will
(now Msgr. Swee- Study of
beautiful,” Father Panameño said of ney) who was then
the Bible book that he often read in celebrate his First serving as vocations Bioethics
his teens and into adulthood. “And director for the Arch-
my parents were very supportive
Mass Saturday, May
diocese of New York. Will
throughout my journey.” 29, at 4:30 p.m. at St. He entered the
As for his upcoming first few years Catherine of Genoa Cathedral Seminary Bolster His
in the priesthood, he said, “I hope to House of Forma-
chris sheridan
be a priest who will continue to learn, who Church in Hamilton tion in Douglaston, Priesthood
will be open to learning, especially taught by Heights. Father Carlos Queens, in 2013 and
the people. I look forward to being there for The Catholic Univer-
Father the people to the best of my ability, be it in a
Limongi, a parochial
sity of America in Washington, D.C., in 2017.
Kevin pastoral or academic atmosphere.”
His parents are Tomas and Celina Miranda,
vicar at Assumption
parish in Peekskill, and
He received a bachelor’s in philosophy
with a minor in psychology from St. John’s
Panameño who live in Memphis; he grew up with a
younger sister, Karin Miranda. (Panameño a friend from priestly
University in Queens. He earned a bachelor’s
in sacred theology from Catholic University
is his mother’s maiden name. He said people formation, will deliver and in fall 2022 is scheduled to complete his
sometimes think he is from Panama because licentiate in sacred theology in moral theol-
Father Panameño will the homily.
of that surname. “But both my parents are ogy with a focus on bioethics.
celebrate his first from El Salvador,” he said with a laugh). His interest in bioethics stems from the in-
He holds a bachelor’s degree in philoso- tersection he sees between faith and science.
Mass Sunday, May
phy from St. Joseph College Seminary in “The teaching of the Church is very practical.
30, at 2 p.m., at St. St. Benedict, La., and a master’s in theology We know the author of life is God. To act in a
Raymond Church in from St. Meinrad's Theological Seminary in virtuous way, we have to recognize that life is
St. Meinrad, Ind. He attended elementary a gift. We have to cherish it and foster it in a
the Bronx. The homilist school and high school in Memphis. way that respects the dignity of human life.”
will be Msgr. Javier His apostolic assignments included Our He wants to be a priest, he said, because
Lady of Angels parish in the Bronx, where he “for me, this is the best way that I can lay my
García de Cárdenas,
helped teach RCIA classes and assisted in pre- life down for others.”
an Opus Dei priest in paring youth retreats; St. Joseph in Middletown His summer parish assignments were Our
Manhattan who is a (youth ministry and giving reflections); Sacred Lady of Mount Carmel, the Bronx, in 2018 and
Heart in the Bronx (serving Mass, RCIA St. Mary’s, Wappingers Falls, 2019 and 2020.
close friend. classes and giving reflections); the Westchester He speaks French, Haitian Creole, Spanish
County Department of Correction in Valhalla and English. He likes to cook Haitain food,
(jail ministry, visited the infirmary); and St. plays soccer and has a blue belt in Brazilian
Raymond parish in the Bronx (youth group, Jiu-Jitsu.
daily reflections, burial services). Born in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, his home
continued on page A10 continued on page A10
A6 CATHOLIC NEW YORK May 20, 2021
Father Chloupek’s first Mass will be celebrated Sunday, June 20, at
Father Frantisek 4 p.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Lincoln, Neb. Father Glenn
Marie Chloupek, Sudano, C.F.R., will serve as homilist. St. Thomas Aquinas was Father
C.F.R. Chloupek’s parish when he attended the University of Nebraska and
when he discerned his vocation.
Father Frantisek Marie Chlou- York,” the friar told CNY. “I made daily holy hour of Eucharistic ado-
pek, C.F.R., left family and friends a few visits and I really felt the ration—that was something I was
in a small midwestern town of Lord drawing me there even looking for. There was devotional
900 people to begin his journey to though it meant moving from the prayer and communal prayer. You
the priesthood in New York City’s comfort of my home diocese and just saw the deep love of the broth-
population of eight million-plus. leaving family and friends. ers for the people in their neighbor-
Father Chloupek grew up in “I have a great love for Nebraska hoods, the poor that we serve, the
Harvard, Neb., where he was an and it grows while you’re away. youth, and saw the work they were
chris sheridan altar server at St. Joseph Church (Harvard) was a very tight-knit doing in the homeless shelter in the
and spent his summers working community. The school was a youth center in the Bronx.
in cornfields. He attended the block away. You know everyone in “I had seen what I had read about
University of Nebraska, where town. My parents were such faith- St. Francis living a very prayerful
College Visit to Assisi he earned a degree in fine and ful people taking me to Mass every life, humble life and working with
performing arts. While in college, Sunday. It set a foundation for me.” the poor and evangelizing.”
Sparked an Interest he took a tour of Italy and visited Father Chloupek, now 35, en- Father Chloupek served in youth
Assisi in 2006. He returned with tered the Franciscan Friars of the ministry while residing at St.
in St. Francis an interest to learn more about Renewal in 2010 and professed Patrick Friary in Ireland, 2012-2015;
St. Francis of Assisi, eventually final vows in 2015. and Our Lady of the Angels Friary
traveling to New York to visit the “I saw the deep prayer life the fri- in the Bronx, 2015-2017.
Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. ars live,” he said. “They clearly were “I thrived in the youth ministry
“I was hesitant to visit New commited to prayer, daily Mass, continued on page A10
Father Ignatius
Father Ignatius Pio will offer his first Mass Sunday, June 13, at
Pio Mariae 9:30 a.m. at Holy Family Church in Rockford, Ill., his home parish.
Doherty, C.F.R.
Father Ignatius Pio Mariae can study and grow,” the friar their Catholic faith, loving their
Doherty, C.F.R., speaks about the said. “The idea was to create an families and serving God.
three years he spent in Comay- environment that was morally and He first encountered the Francis-
agua, Honduras, as the best ones of spiritually formative.” can Friars of the Renewal during
his life. In Honduras, he became fluent a vocations day sponsored by the
“I loved it there. I can’t wait to in Spanish, a skill developed dur- Institute of Religious Life in 2004
go back,” he told Catholic New ing prior immersion trips to Costa at Mundelein Seminary outside
York in a recent phone interview. Rica and Guatemala and under the Chicago.
From 2014 to 2017, he served in tutelage of his mother, Louise, who Upon visiting the friars in New
Comayagua, where he and other homeschooled him and his brother York months later, the 18-year-old chris sheridan
friars ran a Montessori-inspired and two sisters. was eager to join, but Father Glenn
lunch program to feed poor chil-
dren both physically and spiritual-
The Doherty family of Rock-
ford, Ill., including husband and
Sudano, C.F.R., told him he should
continue his studies first, which
Lessons From Poor
ly. Volunteers prepared the meals, father J. Mark Doherty, are de- turned out to be good advice. He Serves and
and the youths handled the rest, vout Catholics. Growing up, they Father Ignatius Pio attended Ave
from serving the food, to clearing attended Mass and Charismatic Maria University in southwest Namesake Saint
the tables and leading prayer time. prayer meetings on Sundays. His Florida, graduating summa cum
Father Ignatius Pio, 34, described parents belong to the group People laude in 2010 with a bachelor’s de- Prepared Him
it as a profound experience “into of Praise, which captured national gree in philosophy and a minor in
the mystery of human nature—the headlines during last fall’s confir- theology and classical languages.
lives of these kids and their fami- mation hearings of Supreme Court He entered the Renewal Friars
lies, their struggles, and the power Justice Amy Coney Barrett. that September, serving first in Har-
of the Gospel in their lives.” That community provided good lem where he shared food and the
“They’re coming to eat so they role models, especially men living continued on page A10
May 20, 2021 CATHOLIC NEW YORK A7
A8 CATHOLIC NEW YORK May 20, 2021
Ohio Native Accepted Father Elijah Marie Perri, C.F.R.,
remembers when he got “zapped.”
the Lord’s Invitation to His conversion experience hap-
pened shortly into his freshman year
Priesthood at Illinois State University.
He had grown up Catholic in
Growing up in Westerville, Ohio, the Arlington Heights, Ill., and attended
home parish of Father Joseph Michael Fino, Mass on Sundays with his family,
C.F.R., was the Church of the Resurrection including parents Jeffrey and Jeanne
in a nearby town called New Albany. The and sisters Valerie and Amanda, but
parish and his parents instilled in him the said his religious faith “wasn’t part of
significance of the faith and the importance my lifestyle.”
of Church teachings. Despite being a fun-loving jock in
During his college years at Miami Univer- high school, he didn’t find the typical
sity of Ohio in Oxford, Father Fino began to college scene fulfilling. He was soon
think of pursuing the priesthood. “It was dur- invited to Mass, where a charismatic
ing my sophomore year in college, I started young priest weaved sports into a dy-
going back to Mass,” Father Fino told namic homily. “It was pretty compel-
Cathlic New York in a phone inter- chris sheridan ling,” remembers Father Elijah, now 32.
view. An employee at the college’s Newman
“A year later (at age 21), I received a Center began inviting him to activities and
grace (during Communion) to know
with certainty that this is in fact the Father stayed in regular contact. One day Father
Elijah accepted his offer to attend a Holy
body and blood, the soul and divinity
of Jesus Christ. And after that I went
Elijah Hour with Eucharistic adoration. He admits
he did not know what to do, so he sat in the
back to Confession, and then from
there I started reading the writings of
Marie back. He was told some people stay for 10
minutes, and others
John Paul II—his Letter to Families Perri, remain the whole
and his Theology of the Body, and hour, that this was Friar’s First
Love and Responsibility. I also started C.F.R. the place “we go and
learning a lot more about the Mass we pray and rest Holy Hour
and the priesthood.” with Christ.”
Father Fino added, “And later it was Father Elijah’s first “By the end of that Was Life-
through reading the Scriptures and Holy Hour, I basi-
praying while reading the Scriptures Mass will be offered cally was convinced Changing
that I heard the Lord invite me to be a that was Jesus in the
chris sheridan
priest and a friar.”
on the Solemnity of
Blessed Sacrament. Experience
the Sacred Heart of
As a priest, Father Fino said he hopes “to It was His True
Jesus, Friday, June
Father bring Christ to where people are at.”
“I hope to be a priest who is present and 11, at 11 a.m., in St.
Presence. That I was
called to be a priest, and if I didn’t spend
Joseph available and accessible to people in their
everyday lives,” he said. Mary of the Angels
time every day in front of the Blessed Sacra-
ment I would never be happy.”
Michael Father Fino grew up the son of Steve and
Toni Fino, who reside in Westerville. He
Church in Chicago, Within two or three months he was filling
out an application for a college seminary
Fino, has two older sisters, Jamie McClelland and
Jessica Roads. He holds a bachelor’s degree
which he describes
as “a beautiful, old
at St. Mary’s University in Winona, Minn.,
where he earned a bachelor’s in philosophy.
C.F.R. in English literature from Miami University Franciscan church” at The call to religious life remained con-
of Ohio. Born in Columbus and raised in stant. He first encountered the Franciscan
Westerville, he attended local elementary which the life of St. Friars of the Renewal at a FOCUS (Fel-
He will celebrate his and high schools.. Francis is depicted lowship of Catholic University Students)
His apostolic assignments from St. Joseph throughout. Father national conference in Texas, where Father
first Mass Sunday, Seminary in Dunwoodie included service at Benedict Groeschel, C.F.R., was delivering
June 6, at 2 p.m., at St. Francis Center in the Bronx (in neighbor- Innocent Montgomery, a keynote address and several other friars
hood family programs); Calvary Hospital and C.F.R., a friend and were present. “I saw them traipsing across
the Church of the
neighborhood evangelization in the Bronx; this fancy hotel…and I said, ‘What are these
Resurrection in New and the Westchester County Department of spiritual mentor, will guys doing here?’”
Albany, his childhood Correction in Valhalla. Before the seminary, be the homilist. When he visited the friars, he was attract-
his work through St. Leopold Friary in Yon- ed to their contemplative life, at least two
parish. kers included serving at St. Anthony Home- hours of silent prayer in adoration each day,
less Shelter in the Bronx, and working in pris- especially their fraternal life. “I could defi-
ons and hospitals in Nicaragua. He lived at nitely see myself spending the rest of my life
the friary and studied at the seminary. Earlier, with this group of people.”
he worked in parish youth ministries in Ohio. “I really want to read the Gospel and live
Father Fino, 36, entered the Franciscan like that—live like Jesus and his band of dis-
Friars of the Renewal in 2010 and made final ciples, wandering around Palestine, relying
continued on page A10 continued on page A10
May 20, 2021 CATHOLIC NEW YORK A9
Father Breslin...
continued from page A3 “You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.”
St. Joseph’s Seminary in Dunwoodie with a —Psalm 110
bachelor’s in sacred theology, master’s in divin-
ity and master’s in theology.
“Any success I've had or anything I've ac-
complished has very little to do with me, but
has much more to do with my openness to God
working through me and this was all God’s
work,” he said.
Father Carolan...
continued from page A3
Father Carolan, who said he was inspired by
the work of St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina (Pa-
dre Pio) and Archbishop Fulton Sheen, will be
graduating from the seminary with a bachelor’s
degree in sacred theology, a master’s of divinity
and a master's in dogmatic theology.
“I learned to always be a good listener,” he
said. “I learned to fall in love with the mystery
of God. I learned to surrender and I learned to
trust in the Lord’s plans. You do the best you
can with all the skills you have and then you
leave it up to Lord because we all have limits.”
Father Caruso...
The Paulist Fathers Give Praise to God
continued from page A4
of the late Carmine Caruso Sr. and the late
Linda Caruso. The brother and brother-in-law for the priestly ordinations of
of Lauren and Brandon Trifeletti, he has two
Rev. Michael Cruickshank, C.S.P.
nephews and a niece.
His home parish since 2015 is Our Lady Star of
the Sea on Staten Island. He has also belonged to and
St. John Neumann parish on Staten Island.
He attended St. Frances Cabrini School in Rev. Richard Whitney, C.S.P.
Brooklyn and is a 1995 alumnus of St. Joseph by-
the-Sea High School on Staten Island. Ordained priests on Saturday, May 22, 2021
He earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering at the Church of St. Paul the Apostle, New York City
technologies from the New Jersey Institute of
Technology in Newark and an associate’s in phi-
Most Rev. Richard Henning
losophy from St. John’s University in Queens.
Auxiliary Bishop, Diocese of Rockville Centre, New York
Principal Celebrant & Ordaining Bishop
Father Gonzalez...
continued from page A4
nary and College.
He attended the Luis Lorens Torres Children’s Paulist Fr. Michael Cruickshank Paulist Fr. Richard Whitney
Academy Public School 114 in the Bronx. is a native of Chelmsford, MA. He earned his grew up in Massachusetts and Washington,
His seminary apostolic assignments were undergraduate degree at Washington University D.C. He earned his undergraduate degree at
with the Missionaries of Charity, Calvary Hospi- in St. Louis, MO. After college, he moved to New Northeastern University. He met the Paulist
York City where he met the Paulist Fathers at the
tal, Catholic Charities and the youth ministry at Church of St. Paul the Apostle in Manhattan. In Fathers through the Paulist Center in Boston. In
Holy Cross parish, all in the Bronx. his first priestly assignment, Fr. Mike will serve at his first priestly assignment, Fr. Rich will serve at
Summer parish assignments took place at St. the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Grand Rapids, MI. St. John XXIII University Parish in Knoxville, TN.
Joseph-St. Mary Immaculate on Staten Island,
and again at Holy Cross in the Bronx. As for his
Could God be calling you or someone you know to discern a vocation to the priesthood in a
interests, “I’m a Schola at the seminary (Schola missionary society like the Paulist Fathers? If so, please contact our vocation director, Paulist Fr.
Cantorum), so I’m able to sing tenor,” he said. Dat Tran, at (212) 757-4260 or be@paulist.org. You may also learn more at: paulist.org/vocation.
continued on page A10
Profiles of the ordinands in this section
were written by Armando Machado, | paulist.org | @PaulistFathers
Dan Pietrafesa, Christie L. Chicoine
and John Woods.
A10 CATHOLIC NEW YORK May 20, 2021
Father Panameño... close to our people and help them bury the them or seeing them…He’s been teaching me,
continued from page A5
burdens that are so difficult.” helping me to grow in the last year, especially
He did his summer assignments at Our Lady Father Frantisek said his parents, Randy and with not being able to see people because of the
of Angels parish, St. Joseph parish and St. Ray- Shelly; brother, Brett; sister, Emily Howard; and Covid restrictions.”
mond parish. He is fluent in Spanish and enjoys six nieces will be among his family and friends
weightlifting, boxing and Muay Thai, a type attending his ordination at St. Patrick’s Cathe-
of kickboxing. He also likes watching movies, dral on Saturday, May 29. Father Fino...
continued from page A8
reading, hiking and listening to music. “I’ve always had a strong devotion to the Mass
and saying Mass is something very exciting to vows in 2014. He likes learning or improving his
me,” he said. “You’re making present the body fluency of other languages including Spanish,
Father Victor... and blood of Jesus in the Eucharist for others. and he enjoys reading literature, writing and
continued from page A5
That’s something that’s always been very attrac- gardening.
parish since 2013 is St. Catherine of Genoa in tive to me.”
the Hamilton Heights section of Manhattan.
Growing up, he also lived in Gonaives, Haiti; Father Perri...
Apollo Beach, Fla., and the Bronx. Father Doherty... continued from page A8
continued from page A6
Both his biological father, William Victor, on the Father’s providence, praying and preach-
and his adoptive father, Edward Glavey, are Word of God with the poor at St. Joseph’s Table. ing and setting up tents.
deceased. His biological mother, Mireille Jean- He also lived in the South Bronx and managed “In a modern context, it seems like these guys
Baptiste, lives in Gonaives, Haiti; his adoptive the kitchen at St. Anthony’s Shelter for Renewal. are trying to be faithful to that inspiration.”
mother, Ronha Garcia Glavey, resides in Yon- He enjoys playing guitar and singing, suitable He entered the Renewal Friars in 2011 in
kers. He has two brothers, Emmanuel Victor attributes for youth retreats and parish mis- Harlem at St. Joseph’s Friary, where he did his
and Jeorvens J. Victor. sions, including online versions livestreamed postulancy. He later assisted with the novices in
from their chapel at St. Leopold’s Friary in Yon- Paterson, N.J., and also spent two years serving
kers during the pandemic. at the friars’ soup kitchen and doing lay forma-
Father Chloupek... Father Ignatius Pio cited Padre Pio, the Italian tion in Albuquerque, N.M., where he fondly
continued from page A6
Capuchin friar and saint, as a major influence recalls the weekly ‘desert days’ spent hiking,
and spending a lot of time with the youth and and an appropriate one for these Covid-19 times. praying and reading Scripture in the mountains
their families trying to start to evangelize the “He was a great pastor of souls from a dis- just outside the city.
kids and their families as well,” he said. “That tance. He took care of people spiritually all over He made his first vows in 2013 and final vows
was life-giving to me. I learned our need to be the world, sometimes without even visiting in 2017.May 20, 2021 CATHOLIC NEW YORK A11
photos by Chris Sheridan
SEMINARY CONVOCATION—
St. Joseph’s Seminary and College
in Dunwoodie held its academic
convocation May 17 with ceremo-
nies for the graduates of 2020 and
2021. Cardinal Dolan presided at
the convocation; Auxiliary Bishop
James Massa of Brooklyn, the rec-
tor of St. Joseph’s, also participated.
Left, the graduates of the Class of
2021 gather with Cardinal Dolan
and Bishop Massa. Above, Bishop
Massa presents Father Elijah Marie
Perri, C.F.R., with the St. Charles
Borromeo Award for Academic
Excellence.
Editor’s Report...
continued from page A2
cational and family backgrounds. build their Catholic faith. The Clergy, Lay Leadership and Congregation
We want to tell you a little about I’ll leave you with one last
of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in
how they live their faith, how they thought recently shared by a re-
first heard the call to priesthood tired staff member who still does Shrub Oak congratulate one of their own,
and what their hopes and dreams
are for their priestly life.
some writing for CNY. She used
to write almost all of the ordina- Father
robert James
A couple of years ago, when tion profiles for a section like this
I was interviewing one of the one. She told me about the first
Carolan,
men who would be ordained that year she took on that task. She
spring, he gave a nice affirma- wrote 18 such profiles, one for
tion about the importance of this each of the priests being ordained
project. He said that he had been that year. upon his ordination to the
reading the ordination profiles She always wrote those profiles Sacred Priesthood of Jesus Christ.
each year for a long time and that with care and talent. I remarked
they had been a source of encour- about the breadth of that work Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton on her First Communion day:
agement in his priestly journey. and seriously asked whether she “At last…at last, God is mine and I am His! Now, let all go its round —
At the time, I remember reply- had been able to do any other as- I Have Received Him!”
ing that his email was the best one signments during that time.
I had received all week. It actually Considering that number, nearly
meant a great deal more to me. twice as many ordained as this
We always hope that our work year, I pray we may again see such
is important and relevant to our a bountiful priestly blessing. I Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish
readers, and that it helps them to hope you will too. 1377 E Main St
Shrub Oak, NY 10588-1422
www.seton-parish.org
Read the electronic edition of Catholic ErEctEd 1963.
First in thE world namEd For
New York! Go to cny.org and click the mothEr sEton.
e-edition button in the lower right corner.A12 CATHOLIC NEW YORK May 20, 2021
M a y T h eir M em o r y B e a B l essing
Venerable Felix Varela (1788-1853)
By FATHER MICHAEL P. MORRIS Mott Street, the latter served by Father Va-
rela. His pastoral success, particularly with the
FIFTH IN A SERIES burgeoning Irish immigrant community in New
S
ince its inception in 1808, the Diocese (later York, attracted the attention of the third bishop
Archdiocese) of New York can count among of New York, John Dubois who, in 1829, named
its priests and bishops spiritual giants, Varela vicar general of the Diocese of New York.
caring and generous pastors, scholars, admirals, On Sept. 20, 1829, Bishop Dubois left New
social reformers, brick and mortar titans—and York for Rome, returning to the United States
Father Felix Varela, the “Benjamin Franklin on Nov. 20, 1831. During his two-year absence,
of Cuba.” Varela was born on Nov. 20, 1788 in Father Varela served as administrator of the
Havana, Cuba. Varela's father, a Spanish subject diocese, and represented Dubois at the First
and his mother, a native of Cuba, both died by the Provincial Council of Baltimore (1829) and the
time Felix reached age three. Felix was raised in Third Provincial Council of Baltimore (1837)—
St. Augustine, Fla., by his grandfather, Lieutenant the 19th century precursors to the modern-day
Bartholome Morales, who in 1796, served briefly bi-annual meetings of the United States Confer-
as interim governor of East Florida, 13 years after ence of Catholic Bishops.
Florida had been returned to Spanish rule after In 1831, Father Varela was asked to participate
the defeat of the British by the fledgling United as a founding member of New York University,
States. Destined for a military career, young Felix an offer he declined. Ever the parish priest, Va-
sensed a calling to the priesthood and, at age 14, rela counted as one of his closest friends, Father
returned to Havana to attend San Carlos y San Alessandro Muppiatti, a Carthusian monk who
Once in New York, Father Varela effortlessly
Ambrosio Royal Seminary. Varela was ordained a left Italy in search of political asylum in New
priest in 1811 for the Diocese of San Cristobal de la transitioned from academia and politics York. Believed to be the first Italian priest to
Havana and within a year, the academically gifted to parish work, serving among the Irish serve in New York, Father Muppiatti served as
Father Varela was appointed to the faculty of the community at St. Peter’s on Barclay Street. Father Varela’s assistant at Transfiguration from
seminary in Havana. Shortly thereafter, Varela solicited funds 1842 until the former’s death in 1846.
Father Varela instituted necessary reforms at Exhausted from pastoral and administrative
the Havana seminary, such as a renewal of the from friends to purchase nearby Christ duties, and emotionally spent from his energetic
study of Thomistic philosophy in the seminary Episcopal Church on Ann Street. and passionate defense of the Church in the
(two generations before Pope Leo XIII issued his wake of a growing and virulent anti-Catholicism
1879 encyclical Aeterni Patris, reviving the study in the United States, Father Varela returned to
of scholasticism in seminary training). Although from Spain. A proponent of what he called a St. Augustine in 1850. There, Varela took as his
a philosophy student and teacher by training, “war of reason,” Varela eschewed violence and residence a small wooden shed adjacent to St.
Varela had a keen interest in such varied subjects bloodshed. One year later, Father Varela was Augustine Cathedral school, living in sickness,
as politics, economics, history, physics, chemis- welcomed to New York by Father John Power, obscurity and crushing poverty. A group of Cu-
try and agriculture. who had become apostolic administrator of ban friends heard about Varela’s plight, collected
In 1821, Varela was elected as a colonial del- the Diocese of New York upon the death of the a large sum of money, and sent the gift to Varela,
egate to the Spanish Cortes (parliament) where second bishop of New York, John Connolly, O.P. only to find that Father Varela had died on Feb.
he labored in Madrid for the abolition of slavery Father Power discerned that this Cuban priest- 25, 1853. The money was used to build a mauso-
and increased autonomy in the Spanish colonies. intellectual and patriot would prove a great asset leum in the city’s historic Tolomato Cemetery.
Varela and like-minded members of the Cortes to the fledgling diocese which encompassed all Before the outbreak of World War I, Varela’s
evoked the ire of King Ferdinand VII, who subse- of New York state and northern New Jersey. Ac- remains were transferred from St. Augustine and
quently dismantled the Cortes. Varela fled Spain cording to the late Msgr. Florence Cohalan, au- reinterred at the University of Havana.
and, barred from Spanish-ruled Cuba, sought thor of “A Popular History of the Archdiocese of In 1983, the Congregation for the Cause of
political asylum in the United States. Varela ar- New York,” Varela was the first Spanish-speaking Saints charged the Archdiocese of Havana with
rived in New York in December 1823 and spent priest to serve in the Diocese of New York. the investigations into the heroic sanctity of
the next two years translating Thomas Jefferson’s Once in New York, Father Varela effortlessly Father Varela. In the late 1990s, Father Varela
Manual of Parliamentary Practice into Spanish, transitioned from academia and politics to par- was declared “Servant of God,” and on April 12,
and studying chemistry and agriculture. ish work, serving among the Irish community at 2012, the Congregation for the Cause of Saints
In 1825, Varela moved to Philadelphia, at that St. Peter’s on Barclay Street. Shortly thereafter, granted Varela the title “Venerable.” Well on
time the intellectual capital of the United States. Varela solicited funds from friends to purchase the path to beatification and sainthood, this
There, Father Varela founded El Habanero, nearby Christ Episcopal Church on Ann Street. hero of the Cuban people made his mark as the
believed to be the first Spanish-Catholic news- In 1833, Christ Church was disbanded and the apostle to the Irish immigrants in New York and
paper in the United States. Varela was one of the existing congregation became St. James parish a beacon of religious, political and intellectual
first Cuban intellectuals to call for independence on James Street and Transfiguration Church on thought and freedom.
About This Series The articles in this series on priests who have served in the Archdiocese of New York are planned to run monthly throughout
2021. Father Michael Morris, pastor of Regina Coeli parish in Hyde Park, and Msgr. Thomas J. Shelley, emeritus professor of Church history at Fordham
University, will write the profiles.You can also read
