Obituary of Fr. Matthew A. Morreale

Fr. Matthew A. Morreale, O.F.M., of St. Anthony Friary, Catskill, entered into rest Sunday, August 11, 2013. He was 69. Angelo, the son of Joseph and Mary Louise (Alfano) Morreale, was born on July 12, 1944 in Pittston, PA. He was received into the First Order at St. Anthony Friary, Catskill, on August 15, 1962 and made his temporary profession on August 16, 1963. Matthew was solemnly professed on August 16, 1966 at Immaculate Conception Seminary in Troy. During his years as a professed Brother, Matthew helped to provide for the needs of the local fraternity at St. Francis Seminary, St. Anthony Friary in Catskill, Immaculate Conception Seminary in Troy, and Mount Alvernia in Wappingers Falls. After graduating from the Caledonian Hospital School of Practical Nursing, Brooklyn, in 1972, Matthew was assigned to nursing and parochial ministry for the next several years in the following parishes: Our Lady of Charity, Most Precious Blood, and Our Lady of Peace. In 1981, Matthew entered Pope John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, MA and was later ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Lawrence M. Graziano at Saint Anthony Church in New York, on May 11, 1985. Following his ordination, Matthew was temporarily assigned to Our Lady Help of Christians Parish in Pittsburgh. In October 1985, he was transferred to St. Michael Church in Westbury, CT; in March 1987, he served as chaplain at St. Claire Hospital in New York; in September 1990, as associate pastor of Our Lady Star of the Sea in Staten Island; and in October 1993, as associate pastor of St. Ladislaus Church in New Brunswick, NJ. In August 1995, Matthew was appointed pastor of Our Lady of Pity Church in the Bronx until the parish closed on March 31, 2003. In April 2003, he was appointed pastor of Assumption Parish, Roebling, serving there until May 1, 2006. Matthew served temporarily at the Franciscan Center, Andover; Good Counsel Friary, Morgantown, WV; Padua Friary in New York; St. Joseph Parish, Winsted; and St. Francis Xavier Parish, New Milford, CT. In March of 2011, he was assigned to assist in the sacramental and fraternal ministry at St. Anthony Friary in Catskill. A visitation and vigil service will be held on Tuesday, August 13, 2013 from 5 to 9 p.m. at St. Anthony Friary, 24 Harrison Street, Catskill. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, August 14 at St. Anthony Friary in Catskill. Entombment will follow in the Friars' Mausoleum at Mount Alvernia in Wappingers Falls. Arrangements are under the direction of Straub, Catalano & Halvey Funeral Home, 55 East Main Street, Wappingers Falls. To send a personal condolence, please visit our website at www.StraubCatalanoHalvey.com.