Passing of a friend :(

[sachmo71]

Not sure why I'm posting this, other than the fact that I'm surprised at how much this man's death moved me, and that I wanted to pay some sort of tribute to him because of the influence he had on my life.

When I was young, he was always very kind to me. When I was about 7 or 8, he once told my mother that God told him I was going to become a priest. My response? "You're drunk!" I can remember the look on my mother's face.

I hadn't spoken to him in over 20 years, but his belief in me really helped me in my younger troubled days. I thought if this man believed that I had a special purpose in life, then maybe I was worth something. So thanks, Father Tarantino, for making me feel like I was worth something when I needed it.

Rev. James Tarantino, 60, priest, educator
Saturday, October 28, 2006
By Bruce Nolan
The Rev. James Tarantino, a pastor, educator and chief ecumenical officer for the Archdiocese of New Orleans, died Thursday at Tulane University Medical Center after suffering a heart attack in the rectory at Our Lady of the Rosary parish. He was 60.

A priest for 34 years, Father Tarantino in 1995 became pastor at Our Lady of the Rosary, also known as Holy Rosary, his childhood church. Shortly after he took over, parents at nearby Christian Brothers Academy asked Tarantino whether he would reopen the parish school to accept their children with special learning needs because the academy was closing.

Father Tarantino took up their cause. In time, the Archdiocese of New Orleans opened Holy Rosary Academy, which recently expanded to include high school-age children. The school now educates 235 children through 11th grade.


"He championed the under-served. He really had a passion for those children and the school. I consider him the founder of Holy Rosary Academy," academy President Patty Glaser said.

Father Tarantino was an accomplished amateur photographer and a friend of local artists. He established a neighborhood art gallery in one of the buildings in his parish to show the work of local artists and photographers.

Father Tarantino also held a long interest in promoting Christian unity and in developing ecumenical and interfaith relations. He was one of the founders of an annual event called the Festival of Abraham, at which Christians, Jews, Muslims and followers of the Baha'i faith gather for a weekend to discuss matters of faith common to each of them. This year's festival is scheduled for next weekend at Loyola University.

"He was a hero in interfaith work, as far as I'm concerned," said the Rev. William Mackintosh, a Presbyterian clergyman who often worked with Father Tarantino.

In the archdiocese, Father Tarantino served in parishes in Uptown New Orleans and Kenner before coming to Holy Rosary. At the time of his death he served as dean, or the archbishop's local representative, to a cluster of 10 Catholic parishes in the City Park and Gentilly area.

Survivors include his mother, Marjorie Tarantino, and three sisters, Jacqueline Dunn, Barbara Standige and Deborah Harris-Kidd.

A Mass will be said Monday at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, 3368 Esplanade Ave. Visitation will be Sunday from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Burial will be in Metairie Cemetery. Jacob Schoen & Son Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

The Rev. James Tarantino

[Subby]

Thanks for sharing that, sachmo...

[Eaglesfan27]

I never heard anything but good things about him - although I never knew him personally. I had a pastor who helped me a great deal through a difficult time in my teenage years, and I know it will be a sad day for me when he eventually passes. My condolences.