Beloved Late Wife Inspired Journey of Fr. Sammarco

Bruno and Daniela Sammarco, pictured years ago during a European getaway, were married for 22 years before Daniela succumbed to breast cancer. "I was at her side for six years before her death," Fr. Sammarco said.

When his wife died of breast cancer on Good Friday a decade ago, Father Bruno S. Sammarco-ordained May 24 at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark by Archbishop John J. Myers-literally and spiritually put his future into God's hands.

Following the tragic loss of his wife Daniela, Fr. Sammarco initially kept busy as managing director of the International Department of Telecom Italia, which at the time was the country's largest business. Traveling extensively, he coordinated information technology on a worldwide scale "until the Lord called me to this new life."

Despite a hectic work schedule and pulling down a good salary at Telecom Italia, Fr. Sammarco recalled he had feelings of a life without purpose. When he "felt the call deep inside" for the priesthood, he thought that "maybe my life is not finished; I can do something different."

Looking back on his career in communications technology on a global scale, Fr. Sammarco drew an analogy between his old job and his new ministry. "My business was communications," he said. "I would like to think that I have not changed my 'business.' Now, in this new work as a priest, I am trying to establish communication between God and His people. In none of my previous jobs did I find 'customers' so in need of the services the Church is offering them."

Fr. Sammarco, 65, attended Classic Lyceum and Santa Maria College in Rome. He holds a licentiate in mathematics and a master's degree in divinity. He entered Redemptoris Mater, the archdiocesan missionary seminary in Kearny, when he was 59 years old.

Although coming to the priesthood relatively late in life, Fr. Sammarco is not alone. According to Mary Gautier, a senior research associate at the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., an organization that compiles an annual survey on new priests for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), the Class of 2008 nationwide included five men 65 and older.

A more advanced age at ordination, she explained, is on the increase. In the mid-1960s, noted Gautier, the average age for priestly ordinations ranged from the mid 20s to 29 years. Now that average stands at "37- plus" years. The new priests in the 65-andolder category bring unique, valuable life skills to their ministry.

At conclusion of the Mass of Ordination on May 24 in the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark, Archbishop John J. Myers (left) received Fr. Sammarco's first blessing. Fr. Sammarco was among the 11 ordinandi in the archdiocesan Class of 2008 (see The Catholic Advocate, June 4 and May 21). Prior to his ordination, Fr. Sammarco said he is convinced "the owner of the vineyard has called me like a worker of the last hour."

Born in Civitanova del Sannio, Italy, the new priest comes from a "very religious family" that prayed the rosary nightly. He remembers his family as being happy with his decision to become a priest. His mother's advice at the time was for him "to be a good priest."

He confessed there was worry among some friends and associates that he was entering the priesthood as a way of combating his loneliness and grief. Despite those concerns, he is at peace with his decision. "I am sure I am doing the will of God," Fr. Sammarco declared.

His late wife inspired the start of his faith journey. He and Daniela, who was a dozen years his junior, were childless. Both were involved in the Neocatechumenal Way starting in 1973. "The experience became very important to us especially when my wife got breast cancer," he said. "With the support of this community of faith, she prepared herself for the great passage from this earthly life to the eternal one." Fr. Sammarco called the Neocatechumenal Way "a fantastic spiritual experience."

Fr. Sammarco, who served as a deacon at Saint Columba Parish in Newark, has been assigned to the archdiocesan mission at Our Lady of Divine Province Parish of Turks and Caicos of the British West Indies as a parochial vicar.