Rev. Msgr. Galliano J. Cavallaro

Reverend Monsignor Galliano J. Cavallaro 95, Pastor Emeritus of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Providence and former Director of the Diocesan Catholic Cemeteries entered his eternal rest on Sunday, March 7, 2010 at Saint Antoine's Residence, North Smithfield. Msgr. Cavallaro was born in Providence, a son of the late Giuseppe and Angelina (Tomassi) Cavallaro. He grew up in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in the heart of Federal Hill and graduated from LaSalle Academy, Providence and St. Charles College, Cantonville, Maryland. After 5 years of study at St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore, he was ordained to the Priesthood by the Most Rev. Francis P. Keough at the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul on December 19, 1942 and celebrated his first solemn Mass at Our Lady of Mount Carmel. 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 his beloved Our Lady of Mount Carmel, his home parish, where he had the privilege of serving as an altar boy and as its pastor. Monsignor retired from parish ministry in 1990 after serving the people of God at Mount Carmel for 30 years. In 1967 Pope Paul VI named him an Honorary Prelate of His Holiness, with the title of Right Reverend Monsignor. On January 7, 1959, Msgr. Cavallaro was appointed by Bishop Russell J. McVinney as the Director of Diocesan Catholic Cemeteries, a position that he held for over four decades until retiring in 1999 at age 85. Monsignor worked tirelessly to revolutionize Catholic Cemeteries in the Diocese of Providence, which soon become 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 often invited to share his knowledge and experience about cemeteries and cemetery operations as a guest speaker at conferences, meetings, and conventions throughout the United States. During his tenure as the director of Catholic Cemeteries, Msgr. Cavallaro initiated significant growth and expansion, which included the construction of three new cemeteries: Gate of Heaven, East Providence; St. Joseph, West Greenwich; and Resurrection, Cumberland. He also commenced the construction of the first cemetery committal chapel in New England at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, which was quickly followed by construction of chapels in all diocesan cemeteries, a practice that is now prevalent throughout the country. Throughout the years, Monsignor established many programs and initiatives that promoted Christian Burial and the noble act of praying for the dead. In particular the offering of the Holy Mass at all Diocesan Cemeteries near specific holidays and on the first Saturday of each month is a practice that was always dear to Monsignor's heart. On August 24, 2005, Bishop Thomas J. Tobin blessed and dedicated the new Diocesan Cemetery Office, located on St. Mary's Drive in Cranston, in honor of Monsignor Cavallaro, recognizing his 40 years of devoted service as Director of Diocesan Catholic Cemeteries. Msgr. Cavallaro also served for many years as the diocesan chaplain to Italian immigrants and as the diocesan representative to Italian speaking civic-religious organizations. In this capacity, he was the first priest to celebrate Mass at the "Oratorio di Maria Santissima Grande ed Eccelsia" in North Providence. Monsignor was instrumental in the transfer of the deed of the property to the diocese in 1957 and its establishment as a mission church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The property is now the home of Mary, Mother of Mankind Church, established in 1967. He worked with many other similar groups and organizations providing them with spiritual guidance and helping to incorporate their cultural and religious traditions into parishes throughout the diocese. In 1974, Msgr. Cavallaro conceived the idea of beautifying the area fronting Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, a concept that would also help to alleviate the traffic confusion within the neighborhood. Through parish fund-raising and with the help of the State of Rhode Island, the Providence City Council and the Diocese of Providence the completion of the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church Plaza was realized and helped to stimulate the renewal of the entire Federal Hill Community. Soon after the completion of the project a committee was organized by a prominent businessman to recognize Monsignor's renewal efforts and the positive impact that they had on the entire neighborhood. On January 26, 1979 the plaza was renamed Monsignor Cavallaro Plaza. Later in the same year many dignitaries, elected officials, members of the judiciary, civic and community leaders joined Bishop Louis E. Gelineau and Bishop Kenneth A. Angell to dedicate a statue of Msgr. Cavallaro that became the centerpiece of the Plaza. Throughout the years, Msgr. Cavallaro has received many honors and citations for his service to the Church and community leadership from Rhode Island governors, the state legislature, city councils and numerous organizations including an award from the Big Brothers of Rhode Island and as the 1981 recipient of the Man of the Year Award by the Verrazzano Day Committee. In his free time, Monsignor was a sports enthusiast and an avid golfer. He was a member of the Metacomet Country Club and an honorary member of the Alpine Country Club and Aurora Civic Club and was also a member of the Big Brothers of Rhode Island. Even after his full retirement at age 85, Msgr. Cavallaro continued to assist at local parishes when needed. These parishes include St. Mary's and Immaculate Conception in Cranston and Mary, Mother of Mankind in North Providence. Monsignor's service to the Diocese of Providence as a Priest of Jesus Christ spanned over 68 years, which he considered his greatest honor. Msgr. Cavallaro is survived by his devoted and loving family, his brother, Alfred A. Cavallaro of Providence, his sisters Eda Guercia of North Providence and Margaret Campellone of Lincoln and his nieces and nephews and their families. He was also the brother of the late Vincent and Armand Cavallaro and brother-in-law of the late Ector Campellone, Eugene Guercia and Diana Cavallaro. The solemn transferal of his body will take place at the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul on Tuesday at 4 PM. Msgr. Cavallaro's body will lay in repose in the Cathedral until 7 PM, to which all are invited to pay their respects. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday at 10 AM in the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul, Cathedral Square, Providence. Burial will be in Saint Ann Cemetery, Cranston. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Antoine Residence 10 Rhodes Avenue, North Smithfield, RI 02896. Arrangements by the Nardolillo Funeral Home.

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