 |
||
 |
||
|
FUNERAL MASS HELD FOR MSGR. WILLIAM VARVARO
A Funeral Mass for Msgr. William A. Varvaro, pastor of St. Margaret’s Church, Middle Village, since 1993 and a prominent canon lawyer, was offered at the church, 66-05 79th Pl., Tuesday, Jan. 30. Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio was the principal celebrant and Msgr. Nicholas Sivillo preached the homily.
Msgr. Varvaro, 68, died Jan. 25 at NYU Medical Center from a brain aneurysm suffered several days earlier while on vacation in Aruba.
Bishop DiMarzio was the principal celebrant of the Mass, with 150 priests and nine bishops concelebrating with him. The latter included Archbishop Michael J. Sheehan of Santa Fe, N.M., Bishop Paul S. Loverde of Arlington, Va., Bishop John F. Kinney of St. Cloud, Minn., retired Auxiliary Bishop James J. Daly of Rockville Centre, retired Bishop Thomas V. Daily, retired Auxiliary Bishop Joseph M. Sullivan and Auxiliary Bishops Ignatius A. Catanello, Frank J. Caggiano and Octavio Cisneros.
In his homily, Msgr. Sivillo recalled his 54-year friendship with Msgr. Varvaro with affection and humor. He remembered how his brilliant friend helped him in his studies at Cathedral Prep in Brooklyn, especially with courses like Greek and other languages, which he said were a challenge to him. “If it were not for him,” he said, “I would not have become a priest.”
In return for the course help, he said, “I told Bill there would be a tradeoff. I would teach him basketball and tennis. But that didn’t work.”
Msgr. Sivillo noted that while he and Msgr. Varvaro were on vacation in Aruba when the latter was stricken, Bishop DiMarzio was also vacationing nearby. He said the Bishop gave him fraternal comfort and support and immediately visited Msgr. Varvaro at the hospital. “I will never forget what you did for us,” he said
At his death, Msgr. Varvaro also held the position of Promoter of Justice in the Diocese of Brooklyn and was the director of the National Italian Apostolate Conference.
The late priest earned a doctorate in canon law from the Gregorian University in Rome in l986 and served as president of the Canon Law Society of America in l984. The society honored him with its Role of Law Award in l996 as “a true artisan of canon law.”
For 12 years before becoming pastor of St. Margaret’s, Msgr. Varvaro headed the Diocesan Tribunal as Officialis/Judicial Vicar. Before that he served first as Assistant Chancellor and then as Vice Chancellor of the Diocese.
Pope John Paul II granted him the title of Protonotary Apostolic in l993 for having served the Church with distinction. He received the rank of Prelate of Honor with the title Reverend Monsignor in l981.
Msgr. Varvaro was a member of The Tablet’s Board of Directors from 1976 to l994, the last two as chairman.
Survivors include his mother, Mrs. Jenny Varvaro, sister and brother-in-law, Frances and John Kaley, a niece, Regina Kaley, and two nephews, Dr. Thomas and John Kaley.
Burial was in St. John’s Cemetery, Middle Village.
|
|
|
||
|
|
||