Saint Sebastian
Saint Sebastian, our Church's Patron Saint
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Saint Sebastian (c. AD 256 – 288), an esteemed early Christian saint and martyr, holds significance in religious tradition for his steadfast commitment to faith during the period of Roman emperor Diocletian's anti-Christian persecution. According to prevailing beliefs, Saint Sebastian faced a brutal demise, enduring a barrage of arrows while initially tethered to a post or tree, an event that failed to claim his life. Miraculously, Saint Irene of Rome intervened, effecting his rescue and subsequent healing—an episode that gained prominence in 17th-century art. The narrative unfolds with Saint Sebastian's post-recovery endeavor, wherein he confronted Diocletian to admonish him for his transgressions. Tragically, this act of moral courage led to Sebastian's martyrdom, culminating in his clubbing to death. His veneration persists in both the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church.
The earliest documented account of Saint Sebastian's martyrdom can be traced to the 4th-century bishop Ambrose of Milan (Saint Ambrose), who expounded on the details in his sermon on Psalm 118. Ambrose, noting Sebastian's roots in Milan, affirmed his veneration during that era. Presently, Saint Sebastian enjoys widespread admiration, particularly among athletes, and his historical reverence is further underscored by the perception of his special intercessory ability against plagues. Notably, devotion to Saint Sebastian surged during periods of active plague, underscoring his enduring impact on collective religious sentiment. |
Our Church's History
Amidst a substantial influx of Italian immigrants to Middletown in 1925 and a palpable yearning for a dedicated ecclesiastical establishment, a series of committees were methodically instituted to procure the requisite funds for the construction of an Italian Church. Through systematic weekly Sunday solicitations targeting the Italian families of Middletown, a commendable sum of $85,000 was successfully raised. The pivotal endorsement of Bishop John J. Nilan materialized after a concerted second delegation's visit to Hartford for approval to erect a Church specifically catering to the Italian community.
In a remarkable display of resilience during a period of economic depression, additional funds were secured, culminating in the meticulous selection and approval of the Church's location by the Bishop of Hartford. Raymond C. Gorrani, hailing from Massachusetts, was entrusted with the architectural design, while Salvatore Mazzotta, a local contractor, assumed the responsibility of executing the construction. Local artisans, in a spirit of generosity, contributed materials towards the realization of the Church.
The inaugural Mass took place on December 06, 1931, officiated by Father Alvario A. Santolini. Father Rocco J, Guerriero assumed the role of the first Pastor of the Church, and the founding of the Church was notably influenced by the celebration of the Feast of Saint Sebastian. A significant milestone was achieved in 1949 when, under the leadership of Father John J. Keane, the fourth Pastor of the Parish, the mortgage of the Church was duly discharged in its entirety.
In a remarkable display of resilience during a period of economic depression, additional funds were secured, culminating in the meticulous selection and approval of the Church's location by the Bishop of Hartford. Raymond C. Gorrani, hailing from Massachusetts, was entrusted with the architectural design, while Salvatore Mazzotta, a local contractor, assumed the responsibility of executing the construction. Local artisans, in a spirit of generosity, contributed materials towards the realization of the Church.
The inaugural Mass took place on December 06, 1931, officiated by Father Alvario A. Santolini. Father Rocco J, Guerriero assumed the role of the first Pastor of the Church, and the founding of the Church was notably influenced by the celebration of the Feast of Saint Sebastian. A significant milestone was achieved in 1949 when, under the leadership of Father John J. Keane, the fourth Pastor of the Parish, the mortgage of the Church was duly discharged in its entirety.
Clergy of Saint Sebastian Parish
Rev. Alvario Alfred Santolini (1931)
Rev. Rocco Joseph Guerriero (1931-1935)
Rev. John Kelly (1932-1935)
Rev. John O'Neil (1932-1934)
Rev. Alex D. Riccio (1934-1936)
Rev. John James Keane (1936-1952)
Rev. Charles J. Murphy (1936-1942)
Rev. Robert A. Del Russo (1940-1946)
Rev. William A. Carukin (1942-1948)
Rev. Anthony M. Fracasso, Jr. (1946-1953)
Rev. Norman Joseph St. Martin (1948-1958)
Rev. Richard David Curtin (1952- 1962)
Rev. Anthony Colapietro (1953-1954)
Rev. Thomas J. Furtado (1955-1956)
Rev. Zenon Algrid Smilga (1956-1967)
Rev. Valdenar M. Cukuras (1958-1964)
Rev. James Royal (1964-1966)
Rev. Maurice F. Sullivan (1965-1972)
Rev. Paul J. Rivard (1965-1969)
Most Rev. Paul S. Loverde, D.D., S.T.L. (1966-1969)
Rev. Adam Pupsys (1967-1979)
Rev. Zenon Algrid Smilga (1969-1979)
Rev. Raymond David Introvigne (1969-1977)
Rev. Victor G. Salmaso (1977-1979)
Rev. Paul J. Pavese, O.S.J. (1979-1989)
Rev. Salvatore A. Bentivegna, O.S.J. (1979-1990)
Rev. Alvaro de Oliveira Joaquim, O.S.J. (1979-1980)
Rev. Michael Alcantara (1982)
Rev. Joseph D. Sibliano, O.S.J. (1990-1998)
Rev. Daniel Schwebs, O.S.J. (1998-2001)
Rev. Joseph Leo Iannuzzi (1997)
Rev. Sebastian Perumbilly, O.S.J. (1999-2001)
Rev. Thomas J. Derito Smith, V.F. (2001-2004)
Rev. Patrick G. McCorry (2001-2004)
Rev. Christopher J. Zmuda (2001-2004)
Rev. Augustine Naduvilekoot (2004-2007)
Rev. Andrzej A. Gajewski (2005)
Rev. George Mattathilanickal (2005-2006)
Rev. Jacob Kayalaparambil (2006-2007)
Rev. James Thaikoottathil, J.C.D. (2007-Present), Pastor
Rev. George Joseph Richards, Jr., J.C.L. (2020-2021), Parochial Vicar
Rev. Brian C. Maxwell (2021), Parochial Vicar
Rev. Daniel W. Long, Jr. (2022), Parochial Vicar
Rev. Juan Angel Agurrie Palacios (2024-Present), Parochial Vicar
Disclaimer: This list may not be accurate with dates or names of priests.
Rev. Rocco Joseph Guerriero (1931-1935)
Rev. John Kelly (1932-1935)
Rev. John O'Neil (1932-1934)
Rev. Alex D. Riccio (1934-1936)
Rev. John James Keane (1936-1952)
Rev. Charles J. Murphy (1936-1942)
Rev. Robert A. Del Russo (1940-1946)
Rev. William A. Carukin (1942-1948)
Rev. Anthony M. Fracasso, Jr. (1946-1953)
Rev. Norman Joseph St. Martin (1948-1958)
Rev. Richard David Curtin (1952- 1962)
Rev. Anthony Colapietro (1953-1954)
Rev. Thomas J. Furtado (1955-1956)
Rev. Zenon Algrid Smilga (1956-1967)
Rev. Valdenar M. Cukuras (1958-1964)
Rev. James Royal (1964-1966)
Rev. Maurice F. Sullivan (1965-1972)
Rev. Paul J. Rivard (1965-1969)
Most Rev. Paul S. Loverde, D.D., S.T.L. (1966-1969)
Rev. Adam Pupsys (1967-1979)
Rev. Zenon Algrid Smilga (1969-1979)
Rev. Raymond David Introvigne (1969-1977)
Rev. Victor G. Salmaso (1977-1979)
Rev. Paul J. Pavese, O.S.J. (1979-1989)
Rev. Salvatore A. Bentivegna, O.S.J. (1979-1990)
Rev. Alvaro de Oliveira Joaquim, O.S.J. (1979-1980)
Rev. Michael Alcantara (1982)
Rev. Joseph D. Sibliano, O.S.J. (1990-1998)
Rev. Daniel Schwebs, O.S.J. (1998-2001)
Rev. Joseph Leo Iannuzzi (1997)
Rev. Sebastian Perumbilly, O.S.J. (1999-2001)
Rev. Thomas J. Derito Smith, V.F. (2001-2004)
Rev. Patrick G. McCorry (2001-2004)
Rev. Christopher J. Zmuda (2001-2004)
Rev. Augustine Naduvilekoot (2004-2007)
Rev. Andrzej A. Gajewski (2005)
Rev. George Mattathilanickal (2005-2006)
Rev. Jacob Kayalaparambil (2006-2007)
Rev. James Thaikoottathil, J.C.D. (2007-Present), Pastor
Rev. George Joseph Richards, Jr., J.C.L. (2020-2021), Parochial Vicar
Rev. Brian C. Maxwell (2021), Parochial Vicar
Rev. Daniel W. Long, Jr. (2022), Parochial Vicar
Rev. Juan Angel Agurrie Palacios (2024-Present), Parochial Vicar
Disclaimer: This list may not be accurate with dates or names of priests.
