Diocesan News

Only In Print: Early Years Sparked Love of Church

Nicholas DiMarzio received his confirmation while he was in fifth grade (above, with his sponsor). At the seminary (right), Bishop DiMarzio “was always the leader of his class” according to former classmate, Father Mike Russo. (File photos)

By Franca Braatz

Nicholas DiMarzio grew up in Newark, New Jersey, right across the street from the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart where he grew up knowing the priests and eventually becoming an altar server.

The oldest of three children, young Nicholas grew up in a modest home with his maternal grandparents, while his paternal grandparents lived close by. All of them were immigrants from southern Italy who never forgot their Italian roots…


The rest of this article can be found exclusively in the Oct. 30 printed version of The Tablet. You can buy it at church for $1, or you can receive future editions of the paper in your mailbox at a discounted rate by subscribing here. Thank you for supporting Catholic journalism.