Father Matteo J. Rizzo, a retired priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn, died on March 20 at age 78.
Father Rizzo, who was born Jan. 10, 1947, and ordained to the priesthood on May 26, 1973, served the Diocese of Brooklyn as pastor of the parishes of St. Francis de Paola (Williamsburg), Our Lady of Guadalupe (Bensonhurst), and St. Jude (Canarsie).
He also served as parochial vicar for the parishes of Holy Family (Canarsie), St. Columba (Marine Park), St. Anastasia (Douglaston), St. Ephrem (Dyker Heights), St. Brigid (Bushwick), and St. Anthony of Padua (South Ozone Park).
He was in residence at the parish of St. Anastasia and spent his final years as a senior active priest in the Diocese of St. Petersburg, Florida. Father Rizzo was also a member of the Priests’ Purgatorial Society.
Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Raymond Chappetto served as pastor at Our Lady of Miracles parish when Father Rizzo was pastor of St. Jude, a neighboring parish.
Bishop Chappetto remembered Father Rizzo as a “prayerful, generous priest who dedicated his life to the service of God and God’s people.” “He lived his life after the model of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who came to serve, and not be served,” he added.
The funeral Mass for Father Rizzo was celebrated on March 29 at St. Anastasia Church, Douglaston. Bishop Chappetto was the principal celebrant and homilist, and special concelebrants were Msgr. Kevin B. No one and Father Michael G. Tedone. Burial followed at Mount St. Mary Cemetery, Flushing.
Sister Dolores Katzenberger, (formerly Sister Joseph Dolores), a Sister of St. Joseph for 77 years, died on Jan. 26 at St. Joseph Convent, Brentwood. She was 95 years old. Daughter of Frederick and Anna, Sister Dolores grew up in a loving Catholic family, along with her sister, Annette, and her brothers, Fred and Gerard.
She attended St. Pascal Baylon School and St. Joseph’s Juniorate. After graduating from the Juniorate and deciding to become a teacher, Sister Dolores entered the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1948. In the years that followed, Sister Dolores earned a BA in English from St. Francis College, Brooklyn, an MA in English from College of St. Rose, Albany, and an MA in education from St. Joseph College, Brooklyn.
Sister Dolores brought her love of God to the schools in the Dioceses of Brooklyn and Rockville Centre. These included St. Agnes, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and St. Michael (Brooklyn), and St. Anne and St. Christopher (Rockville Centre). She also served as principal of Ss. Cyril and Methodius (Deer Park). In 1972, Sister Dolores was assigned to teach English at the Academy of St. Joseph, Brentwood, followed by years of teaching English at Sacred Heart Academy, Hempstead.
Many other groups benefited from Sister Dolores’ kindness. She always taught CCD in the parishes where she was assigned. She was a woman of the Church, always aware of the “dear neighbor.” She was a Eucharistic Minister assigned to Nassau Medical Center Hospital and, for over 17 years, was a dedicated visitor to the Rockville Centre Nursing Home.
In 2002, Sister Dolores retired to St. Joseph, Brentwood, where she became an active volunteer on wheels, always ready to take advantage of the opportunities to grow in the love of God and neighbor and help wherever needed.
On Feb. 5, Msgr. Brian McNamara celebrated the Mass of Christian Burial for Sister Dolores in Sacred Heart Chapel, Brentwood. Her burial followed in Calvary Cemetery, Brentwood, New York.