Commemoration 2022
At our Capuchin Provincial Chapter held in May 2022, we remembered the friars, affiliates, parents and those we hold dear who have passed to te Lord's life since our last Chapter in May 2019. We give thanks to the Lord for the blessing of their lives, and we commend them all to the Lord's abundant peace & goodness.
Mario Mastrangelo, OFM Cap., 1931-2022
Our Province suffered a loss when our brother Mario Mastrangelo, OFM Cap., 90, made his transitus to the Lord’s eternal life on Saturday afternoon, February 26, 2022. Health problems have plagued him throughout the past years. Sometimes dampening his spirits but never his kindness, his resolve or his trust in the Lord, his visits in and out of hospital for a range of issues dealing with his diabetes called upon our prayers and support. We became accustomed to his bouncing back and returning to the brothers, but after a final visit by his blood brother, Fr. Nick Mastrangelo, a retired priest of the Diocese of Pittsburgh (PA), Mario succumbed to Sister Death.
Anthony Mastrangelo was born in New Castle, PA on May 3, 1931, the first of three sons born to Nicholas and Concepta (Toscano) Mastrangelo. Having been baptized in New Castle’s St. Vitus Parish, his childhood was nurtured by the immigrant Italian community of the city. Bouncing back and forth between public and parochial schools during his elementary and high school years, 17-year-old Anthony finally landed among our Capuchin Franciscan friars at St. Fidelis High School and College Seminary in Herman, PA, to complete his last two years of high school studies before entering the college seminary.
Francis Xavier Russo, OFM Cap., 1934-2022
Our brother Francis Xavier Russo, OFM Cap., passed to the Lord’s eternal life early Friday afternoon, January 14, 2022, at Villa Rosa Nursing home in Mitchellville, MD, from complications following a stroke he suffered on December 4, 2021. Our confrere Emett Schuler, OFM Cap., administered the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick and was praying with him at the time of his death.
John Carmen Russo was born on March 21, 1934, to John and Theresa (Izzo) Russo of Mahoningtown, PA. He was baptized at St. Lucy Church in Mahoningtown and educated in the local public elementary school before enrolling at St. Fidelis Seminary in Herman, PA, in 1951, where he received both his high school and college education. Following his second year of collegiate studies, he received the habit of our Capuchin Franciscan community when he entered the novitiate at St. Conrad Friary, Annapolis, MD, on July 13, 1953, and was given the name “Kent.”
Paul Patlo, OFM Cap., 1969-2021
Our Capuchin brother Paul Patlo, OFM Cap., passed to the Lord’s eternal life on December 26, 2021, at Pacific International Hospital in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (PNG). He had suffered from kidney and liver failure for a number of weeks in Kimbe, his family home, where he was cared for by family until his illness required hospitalization in the nation’s capital. Paul was 52. His death marks a sad milestone for our Province: he was the first native friar from our mission to pass.
Paul was born in West New Britain-Pomio on October15, 1969, to his parents, Philip Kepipe and Francesca Kempole. His decision to be a Catholic priest goes back to his high school years in 1982 at Malmal High School in Pomio. When he completed grade 10 in 1985, he was accepted at St Peter Chanel Seminary in Rabaul to begin his priesthood studies. After objections by his father about his choice of schooling, however, Paul had to withdrew from the seminary and worked for two years as plantation supervisor with the New Britain Palm Oil Development (NBPOD) Company. The young man was not satisfied with the life he was living, however, and his desire to be a priest grew stronger and stronger.
Francis Fugini, OFM Cap., 1925-2021
Our brother Francis Fugini, OFM Cap, former Provincial Minister of our Capuchin Province of St. Augustine and a veteran of the Navy during World War II, entered eternal life in the early hours of Friday, August 13, 2021. He was 95 years old at the time of his death, the oldest friar of the Province.
He was born on October 1, 1925, the third of eleven children of Peter and Marie (Piccola) Fugini, and baptized Richard at Mater Dolorosa Church in Chicora, Butler County, PA. He was educated at the public elementary and high schools of Chicora and enjoyed a close-knit, faith-filled Italian family life with aunts, uncles, cousins and grandmothers (distinguished by the color of their houses as “green Nonna” and “white Nonna”) all near at hand and frequently visited. He never lapsed in gratitude and love for his family and the richness of his Italian heritage, sharing memories and seeking distant relations until very late in his life.
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