Obituary of Brother Joseph Messina O.F.M.

Brother Joseph Messina, O.F.M. Brother Joseph Messina, O.F.M. of St. Anthony Friary in Catskill, died March 12, 2007 after a brief illness. Born Samuel Messina on August 20, 1925 in West Chester, Pennsylvania, he was the son of the late Vincenzo and Josephine Gulli Messina. Brother Messina entered the Franciscan Order on July 14, 1946 and was given the name Joseph. He professed Final Vows as a Franciscan on July 15, 1950. During his 59 years as a friar, Joseph greatly served the Church and the Franciscan Order. He served 13 years as a missionary in Olancho, Honduras, Central America and more than 30 years as a catechist for the Spanish community; these communities included Our Lady of Pity Church in the South Bronx, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Mount Vernon and St. Mary's Church in Poughkeepsie. He also served as catechist for the Confirmation class at St. Mary's Church in Wappingers Falls. Brother Joseph was honored by the Archdiocese of New York on his 25 years of service as a Catechist. Among the friars, Brother Joseph will be remembered most for his culinary skills. He served as friary cook at St. Christopher's in Boston, MA, St. Anthony's in Catskill, St. Francis Seminary in Andover, MA, St. Francis' in Cambridge, MA, Mount Carmel in Mount Vernon and Mount Alvernia Retreat Center in Wappingers Falls. Brother Joseph also served with the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor as a member of the staff at Mount Alverno Nursing Home in Warwick. Survivors include his brother, Bruno Messina; sisters, Dominica Scaramazza and Philomena Facenda; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sisters, Stella, Mary, Josephine and Antoinette, and his brothers, Dominic, Demetrius and James. Funeral services will be conducted at St. Anthony Friary, 24 Harrison Street in Catskill. Calling hours will be held on Friday, March 16 from 4 to 8 p.m. with a wake service at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Anthony Friary Chapel on Saturday, March 17 at 10 a.m. Interment will follow in the friar's cemetery at Mount Alvernia in Wappingers Falls. Arrangements are under the direction of Straub Funeral Home, 55 E. Main Street, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590. In lieu of flowers, Mass requests and donations should be directed to Franciscan Friars, 125 Thompson Street, New York, NY 10012-3110.