St. Tarcisius pastor Joseph Pranzo leaving for Florida

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St. Tarcisius pastor Joseph Pranzo leaving for Florida August 20, 2009

John Hilliard 508-626-4449 Metrowest Daily News

FRAMINGHAM -- After fighting on behalf of local immigrants for years, the pastor of St. Tarcisius Church will leave his post next month for a new parish in Florida.
The Rev. Joseph Pranzo was reassigned to become pastor of St. Vincent Parish in Margate, Fla., where he'll be one of three priests working with a parish that includes English, Portuguese and Spanish speakers.
He leaves Framingham on Sept. 17 and takes over at his new parish on Oct. 1.
Aside from his church duties, Pranzo worked with Metropolitan Interfaith Congregations Acting for Hope (MICAH) in its work to establish the Framingham Community Health Center. He also led a voter registration drive in south Framingham and has built relationships between the town and its immigrant communities.
He said he's excited about his new assignment, but leaves Framingham, where he's lived for eight years, with mixed feelings.
"It's going to be hard to leave in that sense," said Pranzo, known to many around town as Father Joe.
Pranzo has been a priest for about 46 years, after deciding on the seminary as a young boy attending parochial school on the lower east side of Manhattan. He remembers attending daily Mass while in school, and being advised by his mother to graduate high school before taking his vows.
He joined the Missionaries of St. Charles because of the order's work with immigrants. He remembered that, as a child, he was told how they helped his own grandparents when they first arrived in New York from Italy.
"I wanted to do the same," said Pranzo.
MICAH will be part of a Mass this Sunday at 11 a.m. at St. Tarcisius, followed by a celebration in Pranzo's honor, said Michael J. Brown, the group's director.
"What we're trying to say is we appreciate the work he's done for the community," said Brown. "He really believes in the Catholic teaching of the dignity of all human beings."
Pranzo made headlines after facing accusations of battery from local illegal immigration opponent Joe Rizoli, who said Pranzo tried to take away his camera during a forum at the church in December. The case was thrown out twice - first by a court clerk, then a judge earlier this year.
Despite the fact he was in court during the week leading up to Easter and a hearing in April was close to his birthday, Pranzo said he was fulfilling his duty toward his parish.
"That was a high point. It meant I was doing something good for the immigrant community. I was defending them," said Pranzo. "I want to make sure they get their religious services and make sure they are treated as human (beings)."
Pranzo had a no-trespass order issued for Rizoli, and his brother, Jim, both former St. Tarcisius parishioners, to keep them off church property in the future. Pranzo said he is not angry about the incident.
"I hold no animosity toward them. I totally forgive them," said Pranzo.
Joe Rizoli said it was a shame Pranzo is leaving, but took issue with being forgiven by Pranzo.
"He doesn't forgive me. For what? Being respectful of that place (St. Tarcisius)? That's ridiculous," said Rizoli.
St. Tarcisius was founded in 1907 for Italian immigrants who needed a place to worship, said Pranzo. The church's mission was to become a spiritual home for immigrants, a role that has expanded over the years to include subsequent generations of immigrants. He said that before last fall's presidential election, about 20 members of his parish became American citizens.
Pranzo has celebrated Mass on many Sunday nights for Portuguese-speaking families. He said the nation needs to reform how immigration works - especially with an estimated 11 million illegal immigrants living here - but those rules can't come at the expense of people.
"As a church, we believe in following the law. But they have come here and been here so long. They have families here," he said of illegal immigrants. Immigration "reform must take place, but it must respect families."
Marcos Contreras, a parishioner from St. Tarcisius who is also a co-president of MICAH, said he expects Pranzo to serve his new parish as he did at St. Tarcisius.
Contreras immigrated to Framingham from Chile, and first met Pranzo when his children began attending St. Tarcisius' school.
"He's the biggest man you'll ever see," said Contreras.
Ron Woods, another co-president of MICAH and a member of Temple Beth-El in Sudbury, described the St. Tarcisius pastor as a "wonderful, gentle soul."
"He just stands for the dignity and respect for all people, regardless of who you are," said Woods.

St. Tarcisius pastor Joseph Pranzo leaving for Florida	August 20, 2009
John Hilliard 508-626-4449	Metrowest Daily News
FRAMINGHAM -- After fighting on behalf of local immigrants for years, the pastor of St. Tarcisius Church will leave his post next month for a new parish in Florida. The Rev. Joseph Pranzo was reassigned to become pastor of St. Vincent Parish in Margate, Fla., where he'll be one of three priests working with a parish that includes English, Portuguese and Spanish speakers. He leaves Framingham on Sept. 17 and takes over at his new parish on Oct. 1. Aside from his church duties, Pranzo worked with Metropolitan Interfaith Congregations Acting for Hope (MICAH) in its work to establish the Framingham Community Health Center. He also led a voter registration drive in south Framingham and has built relationships between the town and its immigrant communities. He said he's excited about his new assignment, but leaves Framingham, where he's lived for eight years, with mixed feelings. "It's going to be hard to leave in that sense," said Pranzo, known to many around town as Father Joe. Pranzo has been a priest for about 46 years, after deciding on the seminary as a young boy attending parochial school on the lower east side of Manhattan. He remembers attending daily Mass while in school, and being advised by his mother to graduate high school before taking his vows. He joined the Missionaries of St. Charles because of the order's work with immigrants. He remembered that, as a child, he was told how they helped his own grandparents when they first arrived in New York from Italy. "I wanted to do the same," said Pranzo. MICAH will be part of a Mass this Sunday at 11 a.m. at St. Tarcisius, followed by a celebration in Pranzo's honor, said Michael J. Brown, the group's director. "What we're trying to say is we appreciate the work he's done for the community," said Brown. "He really believes in the Catholic teaching of the dignity of all human beings." Pranzo made headlines after facing accusations of battery from local illegal immigration opponent Joe Rizoli, who said Pranzo tried to take away his camera during a forum at the church in December. The case was thrown out twice - first by a court clerk, then a judge earlier this year. Despite the fact he was in court during the week leading up to Easter and a hearing in April was close to his birthday, Pranzo said he was fulfilling his duty toward his parish. "That was a high point. It meant I was doing something good for the immigrant community. I was defending them," said Pranzo. "I want to make sure they get their religious services and make sure they are treated as human (beings)." Pranzo had a no-trespass order issued for Rizoli, and his brother, Jim, both former St. Tarcisius parishioners, to keep them off church property in the future. Pranzo said he is not angry about the incident. "I hold no animosity toward them. I totally forgive them," said Pranzo. Joe Rizoli said it was a shame Pranzo is leaving, but took issue with being forgiven by Pranzo. "He doesn't forgive me. For what? Being respectful of that place (St. Tarcisius)? That's ridiculous," said Rizoli. St. Tarcisius was founded in 1907 for Italian immigrants who needed a place to worship, said Pranzo. The church's mission was to become a spiritual home for immigrants, a role that has expanded over the years to include subsequent generations of immigrants. He said that before last fall's presidential election, about 20 members of his parish became American citizens. Pranzo has celebrated Mass on many Sunday nights for Portuguese-speaking families. He said the nation needs to reform how immigration works - especially with an estimated 11 million illegal immigrants living here - but those rules can't come at the expense of people. "As a church, we believe in following the law. But they have come here and been here so long. They have families here," he said of illegal immigrants. Immigration "reform must take place, but it must respect families." Marcos Contreras, a parishioner from St. Tarcisius who is also a co-president of MICAH, said he expects Pranzo to serve his new parish as he did at St. Tarcisius. Contreras immigrated to Framingham from Chile, and first met Pranzo when his children began attending St. Tarcisius' school. "He's the biggest man you'll ever see," said Contreras. Ron Woods, another co-president of MICAH and a member of Temple Beth-El in Sudbury, described the St. Tarcisius pastor as a "wonderful, gentle soul." "He just stands for the dignity and respect for all people, regardless of who you are," said Woods.

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