Rev. Rinaldo A. Ribezzi

06/24/2001

The Rev. Rinaldo A. Ribezzi, 86, of the Stigmatine Congregation died Sunday at Mont Marie Health Care Center in Holyoke, where he resided since 1998. Born in Udine, Italy, on Feb. 18, 1915, son of Francesco and Maria Trinca Ribezzi, he attended schools in Verona and Rome. Rev. Ribezzi was ordained to the priesthood on July 9, 1939, in Verona, and professed his first vows as a member of the Stigmatine community on Sept. 9, 1932. After ordination, he was assigned to several schools, colleges and parishes of the Stigmatine Fathers throughout Italy, concluding with an assignment as assistant pastor at the church of Santa Croce in Rome during the Nazi occupation. During this time, the Stigmatine community there concealed some 150 people from discovery by the Gestapo. He was charged with securing reading materials and other supplies for their support. The effort was successful, lasting until the liberation of Rome by American troops in June 1945. In 1947, he came to the United States and was stationed at the Stigmatine Novitiate in Springfield. From there he preached missions in Italian for two years and was then assigned as assistant at Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish in Springfield until 1953, when he became assistant and religious superior at Sacred Heart Parish in Waltham. Rev. Ribezzi was then assigned to the new Stigmatine Fathers information center in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. In 1958, he returned to Springfield as the superior of the novitiate. He remained there until 1963, when he served as rector of St. Mary's Church in Ludlow and later as rector of All Souls Mission Church in Pittsfield. In 1965, he was made pastor of St. Joachim Parish, South Porcupine, Ontario, where he served until 1973. He was assistant at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Pittsfield from 1976 until 1985, pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in White Plains, N.Y., from 1985 to 1989. He returned to Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish in Pittsfield as assistant. He was chairman of the Liturgy commission for the Lynn Vicariate in the Archdiocese of Boston and a participant in Project Rachel, a reconciliation ministry of the Catholic Church for the post-abortion healing. He also taught Italian classes at some of the assignments he held. He leaves a brother, Michalangelo Ribezzi of Udine, Italy. Father Ribezzi will lie in state in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Pittsfield on Thursday, June 28, from 4 to 7 p.m. The Vigil for the deceased will be prayed at 7 p.m. A concelebrated funeral Mass will be held in the church on Fenn Street at 11 a.m. Friday, June 29. Burial will follow in the Stigmatine Plot at Sacred Heart Cemetery, Milford, at 4 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Stigmatine Fathers and Brothers Scholarship Fund, 554 Lexington St., Waltham, MA 02452, or to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church Rectory, 359 Fenn St., Pittsfield, MA 01201. FLYNN & DAGNOLI-BENCIVENGA FUNERAL HOME, 5 Elm St., is in charge of arrangements.

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