A life of faith is the fullest kind of life there is for Father Anthony Francis Rosado, 30.
Born and raised in Jackson Heights, he is the first-born child of Frances and the late George Rosado, who trace their roots to Italy and Puerto Rico. He grew up as a member of Our Lady of Fatima parish.
From the first notes he played on a piano at age five, Father Rosado fell in love with music.
He attended The Garden School, Jackson Heights; Fiorello H. LaGuardia H.S. of Music & Art and Performing Arts, Manhattan, for vocal studies; and Manhattan School of Music, Manhattan, where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music.
Outside of school, he sang in his parish choir and played the organ at Mass. He served as music director at St. Bonaventure Church, Jamaica, throughout his high school years.
He wanted to become a professional musician who composed opera music, and he was on the right path. Then during his senior year in college, he realized that the operas he composed were always sacred in theme. It was a turning point in his life.
“Once I realized that music was my own little way of sharing faith, I started to ask why not begin to share my faith at the broadest level, using every means at my disposal – namely, being a priest,” he said.
He completed his graduate degree and began his doctorate in sacred music at the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., while taking time to pray and discern his vocation.
He soon recognized that while he loved music, it was not the direction for his life.
At Catholic University, he had met the Paulist Fathers and was attracted to their mission of evangelization. He entered the order, professed first vows and served pastoral assignments in Toronto; Berkeley, Calif., and Grand Rapids, Mich. It was a fruitful time in that he became “absolutely confident” that he was called to be a priest.
While he was grateful for the three-and-a-half years he spent with the Paulists, he felt that God was calling him back to his roots – to serve the faithful in the city he knew best. In 2012, he entered formation to become a priest for the Diocese of Brooklyn.
He completed his theological studies at Catholic University, where he obtained his master of divinity degree with a concentration in Hispanic Ministry.
“Reaching out to the Hispanic community is important to me,” he said.
He served his diaconate year at St. Fidelis Church, College Point, where he ministered to the needs of both the English- and Spanish-speaking parishioners.
In his priesthood, he hopes to “bring people into an experience of God” and aims to follow the good example of Father Denis Herron, St. Fidelis’ pastor.
“He has been tremendously open to broadening the scope of what church ministry is – not just spiritual, but social and cultural – and making church a place to fulfill all the needs of the people,” he said.
His mother and younger sister Andrea will attend his ordination.
Father Rosado will offer his First Mass of thanksgiving at St. Fidelis Church on Sunday, June 29 at 11:45 a.m.
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