Dear Editor: Rest in peace, Father Arthur Candreva, who served the Brooklyn Diocese as a layman, deacon and priest.

A wonderful and caring man, he had a profound influence on many as a teacher and model for living the Catholic faith. As the CCD director at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, South Ozone Park, in the ’70s and ’80s, “Uncle Artie” found himself running the parish Youth Council and taking a lot of young people, including me, under his wing.

He taught us how to pray and to make prayer a part of our lives. He taught us that our faith was serious, but that didn’t mean we couldn’t have fun. He taught us patience and acceptance and love and that, no matter our age, we had a place in the Catholic Church.

His motto was that of St. Francis – Pax et Bonum and I will always remember and appreciate the Peace and Goodwill he brought to my life.

MARY IAPALUCCI

Shirley, L.I.

 

Editor’s Note: Mary Iapalucci is a former reporter for The Tablet.