Served at St. Peter Parish in Charlotte; former director of Jesuit House of Prayer in Hot Springs
BALTIMORE — Jesuit Father Vincent de Paul Alagia was called to eternal life on Jan. 23, 2026, at the St. Claude La Colombière Jesuit Community in Baltimore. He was 99 years old, a Jesuit for 79 years, and a priest for 67 years.
The funeral Mass was celebrated Jan. 29, 2026, at the Colombiere Community Chapel. Interment was at Jesuit Cemetery in Woodstock, Maryland.
Father Alagia was born Jan. 12, 1927, in Baltimore. He attended Loyola Blakefield before entering the Society of Jesus at the Novitiate of St. Isaac Jogues in Wernersville, Pennsylvania, on July 28, 1946. After completing novitiate and classics studies, he studied philosophy at Woodstock College, earning a
Bachelor of Arts in 1952. He later returned to Woodstock for theological studies and was ordained to the priesthood there on June 22, 1958.
Following ordination, Father Alagia devoted himself to Jesuit secondary education and student formation. He served at Georgetown Preparatory School as a teacher of English and Latin (1960-1963), student counselor (1963-1966), and student counselor and spiritual father (1967-1970). While there, he earned a master’s degree in guidance from The Catholic University of America.
Beginning in the 1970s, Father Alagia’s ministry increasingly focused on retreats, spiritual direction and marriage spirituality. He served as a retreat director at Manresa-on-Severn in Annapolis, Maryland, and led many Marriage Encounter retreats in Maryland and Washington, D.C., through 1977. He then served as retreat director at the Jesuit Center for Spiritual Growth in Wernersville (1977-1978), Loyola on the Potomac Retreat House in Faulkner, Maryland (1978-1981), and the Jesuit House of Prayer in Hot Springs, North Carolina, where he was retreat director (1982-1986) and later director (1989-1999).
Father Alagia also ministered in parishes, providing spirituality ministry at St. Mary Parish in Johnson City, Tennessee, and St. Peter Parish in Charlotte, where he served for more than 10 years. In his later years, he served in pastoral ministry while residing at the St. Claude La Colombière Jesuit Community in Baltimore (2011-2016).
From 2016 onward, Father Alagia was missioned primarily to a ministry of prayer for the Church and the Society of Jesus, residing at Wernersville and later at Manresa Hall in Merion Station, Pennsylvania, before returning to Colombière in late 2025.
Father Alagia was known for his deep commitment to Ignatian Spirituality, his gentle pastoral presence, and his lifelong dedication to retreat ministry and spiritual accompaniment. Through decades of service as teacher, counselor, retreat director and spiritual guide, he helped countless people listen more attentively to God’s voice in their lives.
May he rest in the peace of Christ, whom he served faithfully with generosity and love for others.
Mitchell Wiedefeld Funeral Home, Inc., of Baltimore was in charge of the arrangements.
— Catholic News Herald
WILMINGTON, Delaware — Capuchin Franciscan Father John Aurilia died peacefully Jan. 13, 2026, at St. Francis of Assisi Friary in Wilmington. He was 85.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, at Sacred Heart Oratory, located at 917 N. Madison St. in Wilmington. A viewing will be held prior to the Mass beginning at 9 a.m. Immediately following the Mass, a repast will be offered at the Francis X. Norton Center. Burial will take place the following day at St. Lawrence Friary in Beacon, New York, beginning at 11 a.m.
He was born on Dec. 8, 1940, in Montemarano, Italy, where he entered the Capuchin Franciscan order and was ordained a priest in 1966. He served as secretary to Pio of Pietrelcina – the future saint better known as Padre Pio – before coming to the United States, where he was assigned to work with the Italian-speaking community in northern New Jersey.
He continued his studies of philosophy, earning a doctorate while at the same time serving in various parishes and ministries throughout the Capuchin order’s province in the eastern United States.
From 1995 to 2009, he served as pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Hendersonville, during the decades when the Capuchin friars staffed the parish. Under his tenure, the parish successfully raised the funds necessary to build its present church, which was dedicated in 1998.
Other parishes and locations where Father Aurilia served included: Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish in Orange, New Jersey; St. Francis Seminary in Lafayette, New Jersey; St. Lawrence Friary in Beacon, New York; St. Francis DeSales Parish in Purcellville, Virginia; Most Holy Redeemer Parish in Tampa, Florida; Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish in Passaic, New Jersey; Immaculate Conception Parish in Bronx, New York; and his final assignment, St. Francis of Assisi Friary in Wilmington.
Father Aurilia was author of “Dearest Soul: A Spiritual Journey with Padre Pio” (Our Sunday Visitor, 2024).
Known for his love of life and all things Franciscan, he will be sorely missed by all.
He was preceded in death by his sister, Sophia Ricciadi, and his brother Orazio.
He is survived by his sister Maria Riccio and brother Generoso; nephews Michael Riccio and Anthony Ricciadi; nieces Emanuela Harting and Nancy Rodriquez; and their spouses and children.
Mealey Funeral Home of Wilmington, Delaware, is in charge of the arrangements.
— Catholic News Herald
Read more
Father Aurilia reminisces about his time serving with Padre Pio: “A secretary of Padre Pio remembers the indefatigable Saint” (Catholic World Report, Nov. 2, 2021)
WILMINGTON, Delaware — Capuchin Franciscan Father John Aurilia died peacefully Jan. 13, 2026, at St. Francis of Assisi Friary in Wilmington. He was 85.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, at Sacred Heart Oratory, located at 917 N. Madison St. in Wilmington. A viewing will be held prior to the Mass beginning at 9 a.m. Immediately following the Mass, a repast will be offered at the Francis X. Norton Center. Burial will take place the following day at St. Lawrence Friary in Beacon, New York, beginning at 11 a.m.
He was born on Dec. 8, 1940, in Montemarano, Italy, where he entered the Capuchin Franciscan order and was ordained a priest in 1966. He served as secretary to Pio of Pietrelcina – the future saint better known as Padre Pio – before coming to the United States, where he was assigned to work with the Italian-speaking community in northern New Jersey.
He continued his studies of philosophy, earning a doctorate while at the same time serving in various parishes and ministries throughout the Capuchin order’s province in the eastern United States.
From 1995 to 2009, he served as pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Hendersonville, during the decades when the Capuchin friars staffed the parish. Under his tenure, the parish successfully raised the funds necessary to build its present church, which was dedicated in 1998.
Other parishes and locations where Father Aurilia served included: Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish in Orange, New Jersey; St. Francis Seminary in Lafayette, New Jersey; St. Lawrence Friary in Beacon, New York; St. Francis DeSales Parish in Purcellville, Virginia; Most Holy Redeemer Parish in Tampa, Florida; Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish in Passaic, New Jersey; Immaculate Conception Parish in Bronx, New York; and his final assignment, St. Francis of Assisi Friary in Wilmington.
Father Aurilia was author of “Dearest Soul: A Spiritual Journey with Padre Pio” (Our Sunday Visitor, 2024).
Known for his love of life and all things Franciscan, he will be sorely missed by all.
He was preceded in death by his sister, Sophia Ricciadi, and his brother Orazio.
He is survived by his sister Maria Riccio and brother Generoso; nephews Michael Riccio and Anthony Ricciadi; nieces Emanuela Harting and Nancy Rodriquez; and their spouses and children.
Mealey Funeral Home of Wilmington, Delaware, is in charge of the arrangements.
— Catholic News Herald
Read more
Father Aurilia reminisces about his time serving with Padre Pio: “A secretary of Padre Pio remembers the indefatigable Saint” (Catholic World Report, Nov. 2, 2021)
Dedicated Oblate, pastor, teacher and friend
HIGH POINT — Oblates of St. Francis de Sales Father Thomas Patrick Norris passed away Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, after a brief illness.
Father Norris, 79, was a professed member of the Oblates for 60 years and a priest for 52 years. A teacher, superior, pastor and friend, Father Norris was a dedicated Oblate and priest.
Viewing will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in High Point. An additional viewing will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, in the church. The Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11 a.m.
A Memorial Mass will be offered on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, at Our Lady of Light Chapel at the Oblate Retirement Center in Childs, Maryland. Visitation will be held from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. The Mass will begin at 11:30 a.m., followed by lunch. A private burial will be held at the Oblate Cemetery at Childs.
Born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on Feb. 28, 1946, he was the son of Richard Norris and Margaret (Huber) Norris. He attended St. Theresa of the Child Jesus grade school and Bishop McDevitt High School. Following graduation, he entered the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales and made his first profession of vows in 1965. He spent the next two years teaching at Father Judge High School in Philadelphia.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and Philosophy from Allentown College of St. Francis de Sales (now DeSales University) in 1970. He continued his theological studies at De Sales School of Theology in Washington, D.C., and was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Gerald McDevitt on June 16, 1973, at Our Lady of Ransom Parish in northeast Philadelphia.
After ordination, Father Norris was assigned to Father Judge High School as a teacher and chairman of the theology department. Father Norris was well liked and respected among the school’s students, faculty and staff, and many graduates recall his kindness and dry sense of humor. During this time, he earned an M.A. in English from Villanova University. In 1980, he left Father Judge High School and was assigned to Holy Name High School in Reading, Pennsylvania, where he served as a teacher and religious superior.
In 1983, Father Norris went to Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria, Virginia, as a teacher and religious superior of the Oblate community. In 1990, when his term as superior ended, Father Norris took a sabbatical and studied at the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium.
When he returned to the United States, Father Norris began his long association with the Catholic community in North Carolina. He initially moved to the Tar Heel State to serve as campus minister at Greensboro College, Guilford College and University of North Carolina-Greensboro. After two years in college ministry, Father Norris was assigned to parish ministry, serving as assistant pastor at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in High Point. In 1997, Father Norris was transferred to St. Mary Parish in Goldsboro, where he served as parochial vicar. Once more, “Father Tom” (as he became known in North Carolina) became an integral part of the local community and was noted for his dedication to the people of the parish. In 2004, he was named pastor there.
When he left Goldsboro in 2012, Father Norris returned to Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in High Point. He always loved the people of High Point and they loved him. Amid staffing issues and other challenges in the parish, he remained a gentle and supportive presence.
In 2017, Father Norris was asked to take on the responsibility of acting pastor. Once more, he accepted the assignment with grace and goodwill.
Over the last few years as aging and health issues slowed him down, Father Norris never wavered in his commitment to the Church or the people of IHM. He was always willing to help in any way he could, and he never stopped serving. The morning of his death, he had been preparing to celebrate a funeral Mass for a parishioner he had just visited and anointed earlier in the week.
Father Norris is preceded in death by his parents and his brother Dennis. He is survived by his parish family and his Oblate confreres.
Condolences may be sent to the Provincial Superior of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Rev. Jack Kolodziej, OSFS, 2200 Kentmere Pkwy., Wilmington, DE 19806.
— Catholic News Herald