He Was Committed to Giving Back
Father Jerome E. Nadine, a retired priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn, died Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, in California.
Father Nadine was born June 10, 1933, and raised in Scranton, Pennsylvania. As a boy, he attended St. Michael’s Industrial School in Hoban Heights near Scranton. The school was operated by the Immaculate Heart of Mary sisters, the Sisters of Mercy, the Dominican Nuns, as well as the priests at St Michael’s School, all of whom played an important role in his formation as a youth.
The school went through the 10th grade, and he finished high school at St. John’s in Pittston, Pennsylvania. He attended a seminary in Syracuse, New York, and graduated college at St. Peter’s Seminary, London, Ontario. He was the first African American seminarian in the Diocese of Syracuse and was ordained May 24, 1958, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Syracuse and assigned to the Diocese of Brooklyn. His first assignment was at Holy Rosary Parish in Brooklyn where he served for five years and was also a basketball coach there. He then served at St. Catherine of Siena Parish in St. Albans, New York.
In November 1965, his military journey began at the Chaplain School in San Antonio, Texas.
He returned to the Diocese of Brooklyn in December 2007 and served as parochial vicar at Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Parish in Ridgewood. He returned to Las Vegas and served at two parishes, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and Christ the King. He retired from active priestly ministry on Sept. 30, 2008, and relocated to Fallbrook, California. It was there, at the age of 90, and 65 years since his ordination and of service to the Church and God’s people, that he passed away peacefully on Sept. 30, 2023, from a combination of health issues.
“Father Jerry was one of the finest persons that one would ever encounter in a lifetime journey. Everyone he has touched was with caring goodness,” said his longtime friend, Secular Franciscan Sam DeSantis. “He was fond of saying two things to any of his priest friends who would ask him how he was doing. One was, ‘I’m doing the best I can,’ and the other was, ‘I’m giving myself back to God.’ ”
A funeral Mass for Father Nadine was scheduled to be held Thursday, Oct. 12, at St. Peter the Apostle in Fallbrook. Military honors will follow the Mass. Burial will be at Veterans Cemetery in Riverside, California.
A Selfless Priest With a Passion For Helping Immigrants
Father Robert P. Vitaglione, a retired priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn, died Oct. 4, 2023, at age 74.
Born July 17, 1949, in New York, Father Vitaglione was ordained on May 8, 1976. He served the Diocese of Brooklyn as pastor of Mary of Nazareth and St. Joseph, both in Brooklyn.
He also served as administrator of the parishes of Mary of Nazareth-Sacred Heart, St. Michael the Archangel-St. Edward the Confessor, in Brooklyn, and St. Joseph; and as parochial vicar for the parishes of Our Lady of Loreto and Transfiguration, also both in Brooklyn.
Father Vitaglione served as pastor of Mary of Nazareth parish for more than a dozen years. Father Henry Torres, who succeeded Father Vitaglione as pastor of Mary of Nazareth parish two years ago, called him “a pioneer when it came to immigration.
“Father Bob, as his parishioners called him, was a selfless priest whose passion was helping those immigrants who needed him,” Father Torres said. “When new immigrants came to our community, they would come to our church and Father Bob would help them with their (citizenship application) papers. He was the one who did that. He was beloved in our parish, and he will definitely be missed.”
A funeral Mass for Father Vitaglione was celebrated by Bishop Robert Brennan Friday, Oct. 6 at Immaculate Conception Center in Douglaston.
Burial followed at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Washingtonville, New York.
Sister Mary Corde Somma, RSM, age 89, a Sister of Mercy for 70 years, died peacefully on May 24, 2023, at Maria Regina Residence in Brentwood, New York.
Sister Mary taught the students in St. Brigid, St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Patrick in Bay Shore, Bishop McDonnell DHS, Our Lady of Mercy Academy, Catherine McAuley HS, St. Jerome, and St. Bernard. For 48 years, she taught not only her specialty, music, but also how to live as a follower of Jesus.
A loving daughter of Ernestina and Pasquale Somma, she was fond of recalling stories of her early childhood at Sacred Heart Parish and Mercy Juniorate HS. She followed her sister, Sister Mary Mercedes’ footsteps, becoming a Sister of Mercy, where she brought joy to those with whom she lived and enhanced their lives with her musical talent. Many were the “sing-alongs” she conducted at her most recent home in Whitestone as well as playing for the daily liturgies.
A funeral Mass was celebrated at the Sisters of Mercy Convent in Whitestone. Burial was in St. Charles Cemetery, Farmingdale, New York.
Sister Mary Grace Monroe, RSM, age 93, a Sister of Mercy for 73 years, died on May 13, 2023, at Good Shepherd Hospice in Rockville Centre.
Mary attended St. Gregory’s Elementary School and Mercy Juniorate High School after which she entered the Novitiate of the Sisters of Mercy in 1948.
Her ministry was varied, beginning as a teacher in St. Brigid, St. Thomas Aquinas St. Patrick in Bay Shore, Our Lady of Mercy in Hicksville, and lastly, Our Lady of Peace in Lynbrook, where she spent the next 57 years and where she endeared herself to generations of parishioners, students, faculty, and clergy.
A funeral Mass was celebrated at the Sisters of Mercy Convent in Whitestone. Burial was in St. Charles Cemetery, Farmingdale, New York.
Sister Mary Corde’s presence at Mater Christi High School was not mentioned in her obituary. This was an oversight. She had a tremendous and positive impact on all students who had the privilege to meet and know her. May she rest in peace.
Michael Pravetz,
Class of 1966, Mater Christi DHS,
Cape Town, South Africa.