|
The Legacy of Monsignor
Galliano J. Cavallaro
By Comm. Joseph R. Muratore
 On Sunday, March 7, 2010, Rhode Island lost one of its most devoted colorful
expressive and influential member of the clergy and defender of the Italian
Americans of Federal Hill, at the St. Antoines Residence, North Smithfield, RI.
He was 95 years old.
He was born in Providence a son of the late Guessepe and Angelina (Tomassi)
Cavallaro. He grew up in the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish in the heart of
Federal Hill. He graduated from LaSalle Academy in Providence and St. Charles
College in Cantonville, Maryland and studied five years at St. Mary's Seminary
in Baltimore. He was ordained to priesthood by Bishop Francis P. Keogh at the
Cathedral of Saints Peter & Paul in Providence on December 19, 1942 and
celebrated his first mass at the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church.
From 1943 until 1960, he served as assistant pastor at St. Anthony's Church,
Woonsocket, St. John's Church, Providence and St. Mary's Church, Cranston. In
1960, he was named pastor of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, his home parish
where he had served as an altar boy. Imagine the emotions of his family and the
Monsignor returning to the parish he grew up at and then to become its pastor.
In 1967, Pope Paul VI named him a Monsignor, and after 30 years, in 1990 he
retired as pastor from our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church.
In 1959, Monsignor Cavallaro was appointed by Bishop Russell J. McVinney to
become the Director of Diocesan Catholic Cemeteries a position he held with
distinction for over forty years until retiring in 1999 at the age of 85. He
became a model for other dioceses and cemetery organizations to follow.
He served on the Board of the National Conference of Catholic Cemeteries and was
a member of the New England Cemetery Association. He was a much sort after
speaker, not only for his knowledge and experience but because of his clarity
and direct answers, he gave to members of his audience.
During his tenure as the Director of Catholic Cemeteries, Monsignor Cavallaro
brought much growth and expansion, which included the construction of three
cemeteries; the Gates of Heaven in East Providence, the St. Joseph's Cemetery in
West Greenwich, and the Resurrection Cemetery in Cumberland. He was credited
with the construction of the first cemetery committal chapter in New England at
the Gates of Heaven Cemetery which was promptly followed by the construction of
chapels in all diocesan cemeteries. This practice is now prevalent throughout
the United States.
He also initiated the practice, which was very dear to him, that a Mass at all
diocesan cemeteries be offered near specific holidays. In 2005 Bishop Thomas J.
Tobin dedicated in his honor the new Diocesan Cemetery Office located at St.
Mary Drive in Cranston, This was in recognition of Monsignor's 40 years of
devoted service as Director of Diocesan Catholic Cemeteries.
Although Monsignor Cavallaro was fully devoted and a hands on director, with
many daily demands, the Monsignor enjoyed golfing with many of his brother
priests. Among some of his favorites were Bishop Daniel Riley and the Reverend
James Trainor of St. Benedict's Church in Warwick. The Monsignor had a very
quick wit and could add satire to most circumstances. He enjoyed breaking bread
with many of his friends of the Wednesday lunch club and was always most welcome
at the Alpine Club, the Aurora Club and the Italo-American Club. He was a
narrator in the movie and the accompanying book The Italians of Federal Hill
written and produced by Jonathan Raben.
In many instances when problems could not be resolved quickly, he would find his
own remedy.
One of his most colorful experiences that he recounts with much expression in
the movie "The Italians of Federal Hill" was the "blessing of the windshields"
which attracted the attention of the local television stations and newspapers.
Shortly after his completion of the installation of a parking lot adjacent to
the rectory of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, where once stood the Hebe Soda
Bottling Company, after months of backfilling, surveying, leveling, establishing
grades and surfacing the parking lot, most of which the Monsignor had arranged
with former parishioners, parishioners, and friends of the church, the parking
lot began to create a nuisance by an unwelcome group of parkers who disregarded
the no parking and private parking signs which had been erected.
This small
group of men regularly came in four cars about 8:30 pm and left their cars on
the lot while they visited local restaurants and business establishments. When
they would return after 12:30 pm or 1:00 am without consideration for the
neighbors they were very noisy and more than once they disturbed the neighbors
and the Monsignor during those hours as the rectory of the church was next to
the parking lot.
The Monsignor took note of the colors of the cars and the next time they parked,
he reminded them "they were on private property and should not be parking
there." They ignored him, kept right on walking, and left their cars on the lot.
The next day the Monsignor discussed this matter with the police of the area and
they informed him there wasn't much that could be done as they could not post
police there, as it was private property but would be on the lookout to help the
situation. After receiving no assurance that this unauthorized parking could not
be curtailed on private property although it was posted, Monsignor in his usual
calm manner told the Police Department "that he would take care of the matter in
his own way."
NEXT ISSUE READ ABOUT "THE BLESSING OF THE WINDSHIELDS, THAT CURED THE PARKING
PROBLEM."
Disclaimer: In the writing of these articles, in some instances, the names of
the persons involved have not been used so as to protect the identity of the
families who, in some instances, still survive them. However, these articles
have been thoroughly researched and are the result of examinations of articles
appearing in the Providence Journal, the Evening Bulletin, and the Star Tribune
from 1936 1936 to 1942, and much of the pictures and material are from the
private library and collection of the author.
|
