Introducing our Priests ...

Father Gregory - Fr. Gregory J. Hartmayer, OFM Conv. is the Pastor of St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church and the Guardian of the Friars.  He was born in Buffalo, New York and raised in Tonawanda, New York, a northern suburb of Buffalo.  After graduating from Cardinal O'Hara High School in 1969, Fr. Gregory joined the Order of Franciscan Friars Conventual.  He received his Bachelor's Degree from St. Hyacinth College and Seminary and his Master's Degree in Theology from St. Anthony-on-the-Hudson in Rensselaer, New York.  He also earned a Master's Degree in Pastoral Counseling from Emmanuel College of Boston and a Master's Degree in Education from Boston College.

After his ordination on May 5, 1979, Fr. Gregory was assigned to Archbishop Curley High School in Baltimore, MD where he served as a Guidance Counselor, Guidance Director and Principal.  In 1988, Fr. Gregory was Principal at Cardinal O'Hara High School in Tonawanda, New York and then became Principal of St. Francis High School in Athol Springs, New York.

During the Fall of 1994, Fr. Gregory was granted a three-month sabbatical and studied at the Vatican II Institute in Menlo Park, California.  In January of 1995, Fr. Gregory was assigned to the faculty at John Carroll High School in Ft. Pierce, Florida.  On August 15, 1995, Fr. Gregory was assigned to St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church as Pastor.

Father Mark-Thomas - Fr. Mark-Thomas was born in South Berwick, Maine on July 9, 1957 to Lt. Col. Robert and Mrs. Lois Booth.  His early elementary and secondary education was completed in Maine.  Upon graduation from Berwick Preparatory Academy in June of 1975, Fr. Mark-Thomas entered the Franciscan Order at St. Joseph of Cupertino Novitiate, Ellicott City, Maryland, where he professed his Simple Vows on August 15, 1976.

From 1976 to 1981 Fr. Mark-Thomas continued his philosophical studies at St. Hyacinth College and Seminary in Granby, MA where he graduated with a BA in Philosophy.  In addition to Philosophy, Fr. Mark-Thomas double-majored in Italian Literature, with minors in English Literature, Biology, European History, and Psychology.  He professed his Solemn Vows on August 15, 1979 at Mater Dolorosa Church in Holyoke, MA.  Following graduation, Fr. Mark-Thomas was assigned for his apostolic year to Archbishop Curley High School, teaching introductory Chemistry and Physics.

From 1981 to 1984, Theological Studies were undertaken at the Pontifical Theological Faculty of Saint Bonaventure (Seraphicum) in Rome, Italy where he graduated Summa Cum Laude with an STB.  Upon returning to the United States and an assignment as a transitional deacon at the Parish of Saint Anthony of Padua in Chicopee, MA, Fr. Mark-Thomas was ordained to the Priesthood on May 25, 1985.

Since ordination, Fr. Mark-Thomas has earned post graduate degrees in Liturgy from the University of Notre Dame and Catholic School Leadership and Administration from Boston College.  Throughout these studies, as well as a year-long sabbatical in Madrid, Spain (2003-2004), Fr. Mark-Thomas has pursued studies in Latin, Italian, German, Polish and Spanish.

A major portion of Fr. Mark-Thomas’ ministry has been associated with the secondary education apostolate (Archbishop Curley and St. Francis High Schools), where he has taught English, Latin, Chemistry, Scripture, and Ethics.  He served as Director of Admissions and Prefect of Discipline in both schools.  During these years, he was also very involved in the Leadership Conferences of secondary schools in the Diocese of Buffalo and Archdiocese of Baltimore.

Since 1997, Fr. Mark-Thomas has served the parochial apostolate at St. Edward the Confessor Parish (Stafford Springs, CT) and St. John Vianney Parish (Lithia Springs, GA).  During his assignment in the Diocese of Norwich, CT, Fr. Mark-Thomas served as an Auditore of the Diocesan Marriage Tribunal, Chairperson of the Diocesan Policies Committee, Chair of the Diocesan Liturgical Committee, Consultor for the Diocesan School System, and President of the Board of Trustees for  St. Edward the Confessor School.

On January 18, 2008, Fr. Mark-Thomas arrived at St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church where he began his assignment as Parochial Vicar.  Apart from studies and reading, Fr. Mark-Thomas enjoys cooking, rollerblading (don’t get in his way!), travel and working out.

Father Oscar - Fr. Oscar Modesto Torrez Apaza, OFM Conv., was born in the City of Sucre, the constitutional capital of Bolivia, Latin America.

He came from a very Christian family, and is the third of four brothers.  In 1993, Fr. Oscar entered the Order of the Conventual Franciscan Friars in Bolivia.  His formation included the following: Initial Formation of 3 years, consisting of Postulantship, Pre-Noviciate and Noviciate.  Afterwards, Fr. Oscar began the Academic Phase, studying for 6 years at the Catholic University of Bolivia (“UCB”) in the fields of Philosophy and Theology.

In 2001, in the city of Cochabamba, he was ordained to the Diaconate and began his pastoral work in the parish of “Virgen del Carmen and Maximiliano Kolbe”.  After a year, Fr. Oscar accepted the request of the Custody to assist the Rector in the formation of young men that want to be Franciscan priests.  The house of formation is in the city of Santa Cruz.

Fr. Oscar’s Ordination to the Priesthood was in 2003, on the eve of the Transitus of Saint Francis of Assisi.  After a year, he was transferred to another community, the parish of “Nuestra Señora de Las Mercedes” which is on the outskirts of the city of Santa Cruz, a distance of 50 Km., in a town named Montero.

Since November 30, 2007, Fr. Oscar has been assigned to St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church.  With God’s blessing, and following in the footprints of Saint Francis, he begins a new experience among a diversity of people, cultures and manifestations of faith...united, of course, by one, single faith in Our Lord Jesus Christ.
 

Father Abelardo - Fr. Abelardo Huanca Martínez, OFM Conv. was born on June 1, 1967 in the Department of Santa Cruz, Bolivia. He is the second son in a family of three brothers and two sisters, one of which has also consecrated her life to God.  In 1990, Fr. Abelardo entered the Order of Conventual Franciscans Minor as a postulant in Bolivia.  In 1991, he studied the Pre-Novitiate in Uruguay and in 1992, the Novitiate in Olavarría, Argentina.  He studied Philosophy and Theology at the Catholic University in Cochabamba, Bolivia.  Once completing his studies, he was sent to Santa Cruz to collaborate in the formation of the Postulants and Pre-Novices until the year 2000.

Fr. Abelardo received his Priestly Ordination on October 31, 1999 in Cochabamba.  In the year 2000, during the meeting of the Ordinary Chapter, he was designated as Guardian of the Community of "María Asunta" and of the Filial House of Formation, "San Antonio de Padua", in Santa Cruz until December of 2004.  In November of 2004, Fr. Abelardo accepted the request of his superiors to come to exercise his priestly ministry with the Hispanic Community of St. Philip Benizi Parish.  He arrived on January 18, 2005.

Five Deacons Minister to the Community of St. Philip's...

Reverend Mr. Joseph Anzalone

Vatican II initiated the restoration of the role of the Permanent Deacon in the Church. The Deacon is ordained by the Bishop to serve within the Bishop's diocese. The assigned deacons to St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church are: Reverend Mr. Joseph Anzalone, Reverend Mr. Peter Swan; (Not Pictured) - Reverend Mr. Richard Tolcher, Reverend Mr. Etienne Rodriguez, and Reverend Mr. Gregory Pecore. They assist the Priests during the Mass with specific functions that include the Penitential Rite, the Prayers of the Faithful, Proclamation of the Gospel and Preaching. The Deacons generally preach on the third Sunday of each month. They also celebrate Communion Services during the week, prepare couples and witness marriages, prepare families for infant baptisms, and baptize these infants. In our parish, the Deacons can be called upon to lead Penance Services, Benediction, Stations of the Cross and other non-Eucharistic liturgies. Generally, the Deacons assist in the parish ministries where the Pastor has identified a need. The Deacons at St. Philip's minister to people in hospitals, prisons, nursing homes, to shut-in parishioners, and wherever the need arises.

Reverend Mr. Peter Swan

About Saint Philip Benizi

Philip Benizi was born of a noble family in Florence, Italy on August 15, 1233. He studied medicine in Paris and Padua, where he received a doctorate in medicine and philosophy at the age of nineteen. After a year of practicing medicine in Florence, he joined the Servites at Monte Senario near Florence in 1254, was sent to the Servite House in Siena in 1258, and was ordained there. He became known for his preaching, served as master of novices in Siena in 1262, was superior of several friaries, and in 1267, despite his protests, was elected prior general.

He codified the rules of the Order and began to have miracles attributed to him. In 1268, when Cardinal Ottobuoni proposed his name as a papal candidate on the death of Pope Clement IV, Philip fled and hid in a cave until a new Pope was elected. He attended the General Council of Lyons in 1274 and helped to reconcile the Guelphs and the Ghibellines in 1279, becoming famous for his ability to mediate between opposing factions and act as a peacemaker.

Philip possessed a deep love of Mary and the crucified Christ and was known for his kindness and concern for the poor, his unique humility and strong zeal for the work of the Kingdom of God.

He attracted many converts to the Church, and reconciled many others. He helped St. Juliana establish a Servite Third Order in 1284 and sent the first Servite missionaries to the Far East. In declining health, he resigned the generalship at a general chapter in 1285, naming his close confidant and longtime friend, Lottaringo Stufa, his successor, and retired to an impoverished Servite House at Todi, where he died on August 22, 1285.  He was canonized on August 23, 1671.

Parish History

In 1957, Father George Daly of St. John the Evangelist Church in Hapeville, Georgia began the campaign to establish a Catholic parish in Clayton County. He was given permission by Atlanta Bishop Francis E. Hyland to begin this process. In 1965, the Hutcheson brothers offered their old drugstore building, located on South Main Street in Jonesboro, to be used as a site for St. Philip Benizi Mission Church. There, on September 12, 1965, Father Daniel J. O'Connor celebrated the first Mass on South Main Street.

It was soon evident that a larger facility was needed to accommodate the overflow of people. A committee was formed to search for a suitable site for a new church, and, in September of 1966, the building committee purchased 23.0 acres of land on Flint River Road. Construction on the building began in January of 1967, and was completed on April 30, 1967. This building, which served as the first church, is now our Parish Hall. The new building was blessed in the Fall of 1967 by Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan.

Membership grew from the original 35 chartered families to 150 families and on June 3, 1967, St. Philip Benizi Mission officially became a parish. The growth of the Catholic community in the Jonesboro area - from its organization in 1965 through the completion of the new sanctuary and for the following two years - was mainly due to the ability and leadership of Fr. Dan O'Connor. He was installed as the first Pastor on July 8, 1967, and moved into the new Rectory (now known as the Friary). Fr. Dan's appealing leadership qualities led many to make a new commitment to the Lord by way of Catholicism. His persistence enabled him to push through a building program that was unique in its day.

In the summer of 1969, Fr. Joseph Beltran was appointed the first full-time Pastor. During his pastorate, the Parish Center, composed of a Fellowship Hall and ten classrooms, was built. Fr. Alan Dillman followed as the next Pastor in June of 1971 and was responsible for initiating the use of special (lay) ministers of the Eucharist and the publishing of the monthly parish newsletter, the Be-News-Zi. Fr. Dillman also organized the first Parish Festival.

In June of 1975, Fr. John C. Kieran assumed pastoral leadership here and, under his pastorate, St. Philip's was renovated and re-dedicated in 1979. The extensive renovations included rebuilding the entire sanctuary of the church, installing new furnishings and adding a public address system. A special re-dedication Mass was celebrated by Archbishop Thomas A. Donnellan in April of 1979.

Fr. James Kelly was appointed Pastor in June 1984 and began the plans for a new church building. Also at this time, Fr. Jorge Cristancho, Parochial Vicar, began the ministry to the growing Hispanic community at St. Philip's.

Fr. Frank Giusta was appointed Pastor in February 1986 and continued the building program for a new church. The church, along with the Parish Hall, Office, and Religious Education renovations were completed and blessed on March 19, 1988.

On May 25, 1991, the Most Reverend James P. Lyke, OFM, then Archbishop of Atlanta, arranged for our parish to be staffed by the Conventual Franciscan Friars of St. Anthony of Padua Province. Fr. Patrick Mendola, OFM Conv. was appointed Pastor and, together with Fr. Julio Martinez, OFM Conv. and Fr. John A. Koziol, OFM Conv., began their service to St. Philip Benizi Church on August 15, 1991. Fr. Patrick was officially installed as Pastor by Archbishop Lyke on October 21, 1991.

On May 18, 1995, while on a trip to California, Fr. Patrick unexpectedly passed away. Fr. Patrick's legacy at St. Philip's includes the starting of the Life Teen Program and finalizing plans to complete the landscaping of the church grounds. Fr. Julio was appointed Acting Administrator until a new Pastor was named.

On September 11, 1995, Fr. Gregory J. Hartmayer, OFM Conv. was installed as the eighth Pastor of the parish.  His installation was celebrated in conjunction with the 30th anniversary of the first Mass celebrated in the parish.

On August 27, 1998, St. Philip Benizi parish purchased 5.5 acres of adjacent property which included a 2,084 square-foot structure. Extensive renovations were made to the house and additional parking was created. A new entrance and exit was added on the west end of the parish property. The new house was dedicated and named the San Damiano House and is used for Adult Faith Formation.

During the summer of 2000, a Bell Tower and carillon was constructed. The structure was dedicated in memory of +Faith Adamson and +Michael Gecik on October 7, 2000.

During the summer of 2001, St. Philip Benizi Church underwent a major renovation project that included the addition of a balcony to the rear of the church, a new Baptistery near the present sanctuary, and new altar appointments. The entire interior of the church was repainted and cleaned, and the ventilation and sound systems were upgraded. After a two-month period, the major part of the renovation project was completed on September 29, 2001, at which time the parish celebrated their return to the "new" church with a multi-cultural Mass and a meal of various ethnic foods.

With the growing number of registered families, groups and activities, St. Philip Benizi Parish was in need of additional classroom and meeting space.  In December of 2003, under Fr. Gregory's leadership, the parish began a Capital Campaign to build a new Religious Education Building which was completed and blessed by Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory on September 9, 2006, in conjunction with the 41 year anniversary of the parish.

The church family of St. Philip Benizi has grown considerably since its humble beginning - from 35 families to its current 2100+ registered families. We thank God for all the blessings He has showered upon this community!