St. Patrick Parish of Smithtown has received many blessings over the past 170 years. Not least among them are the many people that have come to serve the parish in all capacities. It is almost impossible to list everyone that served the parish since the 1830’s when the first Catholic families began to move to the Smithtown area. Please visit our history pages on this web site for more information on days gone by. Here we will take a look at the long list of dedicated people who have served our parish since our new church was completed in 2003.
At St. Patrick’s we are greatly blessed with the priests and deacons who are serving and have served our parish. The rectory is home not only to our pastor Msgr. Walden and our two associate priests, Fr. Desmond and Fr. Regan; but also to the chaplains who serve St. Catherine Hospital, Fr. Fred and Fr. Vitalis. We are also lucky enough to have Deacon Rich Janiec to assist our priests in bringing Christ to all our parishioners and enriching all the community in so many ways.
Fr. Walden became Pastor of St. Patrick’s in 2003. Shortly after he was born in Scranton, PA, his family moved to Greenport, Long Island, where he and his three siblings grew up. He attended public schools in Greenport. After graduating from high school, he entered the seminary. He attended Pius X Minor Seminary in Uniondale for his first two years of college and the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington for the remaining two years. He then studied theology for four years and was ordained in 1971. He served a associate pastor at St. John the Evangelist in Riverhead, St. Anne’s in Brentwood, and St. Anthony of Padua in East Northport, before becoming pastor of St. Thomas More Church in Hauppauge in 1989. He served as pastor at St. Thomas More for 14 years before becoming pastor at St. Patrick’s.
Fr. David Regan was ordained on June 12, 2010. His job as associate pastor at St. Patrick’s is his first assignment. Fr. Regan grew up in Deer Park as one of three children. He attended St. Bonaventure University in southwestern New York State and Franciscan University in Steubenville, OH. He holds a B.A. Degree in Theology and Philosophy, an M.A. Degree in Theology and a Master of Divinity as a result of his seminary studies at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington. Fr. Regan’s work in the church began long before his ordination. He worked with boys were being rehabilitated for gang violence, directed a Pro-Life Conference, trained pro-life counselors, and participated in a Pro-Life Walk from California to Washington D.C. He also worked as a Youth Minister, Director of Faith Formation, and Pastoral Administrator in the Diocese of Fairbanks (Alaska).
Fr. Desmond is associate pastor at St. Patrick’s. He is originally from Nigeria and is one of ten children. He was ordained in 1979. Fr. Desmond served as an associate pastor in one parish and as pastor in two parishes in Nigeria before going to Rome to study. He has a license and a doctorate specializing in spiritual theology. He speaks several languages, including Italian, German and English. He also reads Latin, Hebrew and Greek. After studying in Rome, he returned to Nigeria where he worked in two more parishes and served as a lecturer at the senior seminary. He came to the United States in December 2001. He worked in the Diocese of Boise, Idaho and then served as pastor at two different churches in Oregon before coming to St. Patrick’s. Fr. Desmond is also a published author having written a book on family entitled Family Life in the Light of the Gospel.
Since September of 2011, our parish has been home to Seminarian Joseph Attard of Malta. He is spending his pastoral year in our parish. Joseph attended school in Zebbug on the island of Gozo in Malta, then college where his major studies were history and Maltese. (He is fluent Maltese, English and Italian.) He then had one year of university experience, studying international relations and history, before entering the seminary in 2008. For his first three years in seminary, he studied philosophy. After completing his pastoral year here, he will return to the seminary for three years of theology studies. He is currently on track to be ordained a deacon in 2015. His ordination to the priesthood would take place in 2016.
Fr. Fred Hill serves as chaplain at St. Catherine of Siena Hospital and Nursing Home in Smithtown. He resides here at St. Patrick’s and also helps with priestly duties here. Fr. Fred was born in the Bronx, the youngest of six children. He attended St. Mary’s Minor Seminary in Garrison, NY and St. Anthony’s Friary in Hudson. He received a master’s degree in theology from Mary Immaculate Theologate in Garrison, NY and a master of science degree from Rivier College in New Hampshire. He was ordained in 1967. Fr. Fred spent his first six years as a priest teaching biology and earth science. He also worked as a vocations director and in a parish in Yonkers before becoming chaplain at St. Catherine’s. He has served as chaplain for 28 years.
Fr. Vitalis serves as chaplain at St. Catherine of Siena Hospital and Nursing Home. He resides at St. Patrick’s and assists with priestly duties here.
Fr. Vitalis has a Bachelors Degree in Philosophy and Theology from Pontifical Urban University in Rome, a Masters in Theology from Catholic Institute of West Africa Port-Harcourt, Nigeria, and a Licentiate Degree ` in Canon Law from Pontifical University of the Holy Cross (Opus Dei) Rome. Finally, Fr. Vitalis recently completed four units of Clinical Pastoral (CPE) and is now preparing for his certification as a professional Chaplain.
Fr. Vitalis was a pastor in Nigeria for ten years and worked as a member of the Marriage tribunal in Local Diocese of Okigwe, Imo State, Nigeria. He also has pastoral experience in parishes in Europe, Canada and the United States.
Deacon Richard Janiec was ordained to the permanent diaconate on May 16, 2010. He and his wife Mary have been active volunteers in our parish for many years. Both were active in the St. Patrick School Parents’ Guild and worked in the Marriage Encounter program. Rich coached several sports and helped organize our intramural basketball program. He served as a Boy Scout Committee Chairman, and as a Eucharistic Minister and Lector. Mary served as a Girl Scout leader, is a member of Catholic Daughters, and helps coordinate our Altar Server program. Rich and Mary have two adult children, Peter and Jennifer. Deacon Janiec is a native of Albertson, NY and a graduate of Herricks High School in New Hyde Park. He receive a B.S. Degree from New York Institute of Technology in Old Westbury, NY in electronic engineering and has worked in electronic sales for most of his life.
There are many facets to the parish that been placed in the hands of very capable lay people. Some of the key positions in the parish are filled by people such as our Busines Manager, Joe Menge, who oversees the operational administrative needs of the parish out of his office in the rectory; the prinicpal of St. Patrick School, Rita Swift; our Religious Formation Directors, Elaina Kedjierski and Peggy Soviero; our Youth Community Administrator Cynthia Marsh; and Parish Outreach Director, Dianne Williams.
Besides the people listed above, there are scores of others, both paid and volunteers, who make everything at St. Patrick’s possible. From those assist in the liturgical life of the parish, the lectors, echaristic ministers, ushers, music minstry,
Joseph Menge has been our parish business manager since 1995. Joe is a native of the Bronx. He attended St. Frances De Chantal Elementary and St. Helena High School. He received a B.A. Degree from St. John’s University in Queens, NY and a master’s degree from Middlebury College in Vermont. He also went through the diocese’ Pastoral Formation Institute. Most of his career was spent as an educator. He taught Spanish in South Huntington for 34 years. He has also prepared taxes for more than 40 years, a part of his background that eventually led to his position as Business Manager. Joe and his wife Marie have been active parishioners for many years. Joe’s volunteer work has included staining and painting, serving as president of the Youth Council and Parish Council, working with Bingo and the Parish Picnic, and running the Booster Club. Marie coordinated the Parish Picnic, worked as producer, set designer and construction coordinator for St. Patrick shows, ran fashion shows, raised funds for the New Life Center, chaired commemorative journals and volunteered in St. Patrick School. More recently, Marie and Joe have helped raise funds through our annual Car Raffle. Joe and Marie have three children and one grandchild.
Rita Swift began her tenure as principal of St. Patrick School at the beginning of the 2010-11 school year. She was previously principal of Ascension School in Baltimore, MD; Christ the King School in Commack, NY; and Our Lady of Lourdes School in Massapequa, NY. She worked as a teacher in Holy Name of Mary School, Valley Stream, NY; St. Theresa School, Spring Hill, Fla.; St. Therese, Little Flower School, Montauk, NY; St. Patrick School, Bay Shore, NY; St. Kilian School, Farmingdale, NY; and Our Lady of Lourdes School, Malverne, NY. While at St. Therese, she also served as the parish Director of Religious Education. Over the years she has taught at every grade level in Catholic school, K through 8. She received a B.A. Degree from Molloy College in Rockville Centre and an M.S. Degree in Elementary Education from Southampton College, Southampton, NY.
Elaina Kedjierski is Director of Religious Education for Levels 1 through 4. She also runs St. Patrick’s Adult Faith Formation program. Elaina lived in Brooklyn until the age of six when her family moved to Bethpage. She holds a B.A. Degree in Education from Hofstra University; an M.A. Degree in Liberal Studies from Stony Brook University, and an M.A. Degree in Theology from the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception. She worked as Director of Religious Education at St. Aidan’s in Williston Park; as Religious Coordinator for Special Ed at St. Joseph’s in Ronkonkoma; and as a Special Ed Teacher Assistant in the Sachem School District and at Preschooler’s Place for Learning. Elaina and her husband Walter have two children: Walter, who is a priest in our diocese, and Christine, the mother of two children, Julianna and Joseph.
St. Patrick’s Director of Religious Formation for Levels 5 - 8 is Peggy Soviero. Peggy has worked in the parish since 1990. She has served in her current position since 2003. Prior to that Peggy served as Co-director of Religious Education and, before that, as Youth Coordinator in our Youth Community. Peggy grew up in Floral Park where she attended Our Lady of Victory School. She then attended Floral Park Memorial High School and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton College in Yonkers. She and her husband, Steve, have four children and five grandchildren.
As Youth Administrator, Cindy Marsh overseas a wide range of programs which includes music, youth group, before & after school care, a learning center, summer camp, a program for mothers and their young children, fitness classes and a wide variety of sports. Cindy was born in Atlanta, GA and grew up in Southern California. She received a B.S. Degree in Human Development from the University of California at Davis as well as a graduate degree in Education, Multiple Subject Clear Credential. She also received an M.S. Degree from Stony Brook University and is certified in Sports Nutrition and Personal Training. Cindy taught high school English, Home Economics and was a cheerleading coach at Taipei American School. She taught 4th and 5th grade teacher in Winters, CA, 6th grade in Sacramento, CA, and junior high at St. Patrick School. She is the mother of three children: Christopher, Danielle and Caitlin.
Dianne Williams became Director of Parish Outreach the summer of 2010. She oversees numerous ministries and volunteers numbering more than 200. Dianne holds a B.A. Degree in Special Education from Dowling College in Oakdale, NY and an M.A. Degree in Special Education from Adelphi University in Garden City, NY. She worked for many years as a special education teacher in the William Floyd School District, teaching autistic and learning disabled children. Her first involvement with Outreach came when she was asked to facilitate a Bereavement Workshop not long after the death of her husband, Bob, in a car accident. She later filled in as a secretary, then worked part-time and eventually full-time. She worked in Outreach for nearly 14 years before become the director. Dianne has four children: Scott, Melissa, Jenna and Keith.
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On Wednesday, September 5th, 2007, St. Patrick’s welcomed Seminarian John Ryan to serve his pastoral year in our parish. A native of West Islip, John realized God’s call on his life many years ago. He responded by leading a simple and prayerful life, working in the service industry. He has lived in many different parts of the country including Alaska, Seattle, Denver, New Mexico, San Francisco and Manhattan. He and his brother opened two successful coffee shops on Long Island’s North Fork. For a time, John felt his calling would lead him to a monastic community, but he eventually felt a profound pull toward the Church and the priesthood. John lived and worked at St. Patrick’s as a part of his studies at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception until May of 2008. He is on track to be ordained in 2010.
Since June of 2003, it has been our pleasure and privilege to have Fr. Jilson George serving in our parish as associate pastor. At the end of February 2009, Fr. Jilson left St. Patrick’s to serve his Carmelite Order in a position in India. He will be deeply missed. On Sunday, February 22nd, Father Jilson celebrated his final Sunday Mass at 12 Noon. Immediately following, there was a reception in Canning Hall, which was filled to capacity with parishioners, friends, family and colleagues who had come together to express their love and appreciation for Fr. Jilson.
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Summer of 2008, 2011: More Information Coming Soon.
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After 19 years at St. Patrick’s and 53 years in service to God as a priest Father Vincent Liu went home to be with God on Wednesday, August 15th, the Feast of the Assumption. Fr. Liu fell ill during a trip to Iceland and was not able to recover. His warmth and compassion will be long remembered by our parish and by the many, many people who loved him.
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