Obituaries

Fr. Vendetti Remembered For His Healing Ministry

Father Vendetti

A Mass of Christian Burial for Father Michael Vendetti, a retired priest of the Brooklyn Diocese, was celebrated Aug. 24 at St. Aidan’s Church, Williston Park, L.I.

He died Aug. 20 at the age of 80.

A native of South Ozone Park, he attended Cathedral College, Brooklyn, and Immaculate Conception Seminary, Huntington. He was ordained May 30, 1964 by Archbishop Bryan J. McEntegart at St. James Pro-Cathedral, Downtown Brooklyn.

He served as an assistant at Our Lady of Miracles, Canarsie, 1964-65; Our Lady of Grace, Gravesend, 1965-67; and St. Stanislaus Kostka, Maspeth, 1967-70. From 1970 to 1986, he resided in the rectory at St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr, South Ozone Park.

In 1985, he earned his doctorate in psychology from St. John’s University, Jamaica, and went on to work with learning challenged adults and children, while also celebrating Masses for healing at parishes around the diocese.

He also served as a member of the diocesan healing ministry and was chaplain at the New York Chiropractic College.

Father Sean Magaldi, a great nephew of Father Vendetti, said he will remember his great uncle as “truly a very spiritual person who was very dedicated to everything he did in life.”

“He always prayed to St. Benedict and Padre Pio and they always helped him to find peace,” said Father Magaldi, a priest of the Rockville Centre Diocese.

“He worked with healing ministries and had a Ph.D. in psychology. He always wanted to help people. What I will miss most about him is his spirituality, gentleness to others and his sense of humor.

“He always loved Jerry Lewis and I remember going to see and watching many of his movies.”

Auxiliary Bishop Raymond Chappetto was the main celebrant of the funeral Mass.

Burial was in a family plot at St. John’s Cemetery, Middle Village.