Fr. Raphael Iannone, O.F.M., Cap.

Remembering Fr. Raphael Iannone

Fr. Raphael first met the St. Francis de Sales community many years ago, when he assisted our Priest-in-Residence, Fr. Joseph, with the weekend Mass schedule. Because he was a visitor, members of the community naturally offered hospitality, and invited him to join them for dinner at Tiso’s Restaurant. There, they met other parishioners and enjoyed a memorable evening of great food and great conversation. A mutual connection took root!
Later, when Fr. Joseph decided to return to India, we remembered Raphael, and found him living with fellow Capuchins at St. Joseph Church in New Paltz. He was retired, and serving as chaplain to the local firefighters. We invited him to join our community, and promised that he could focus on sacramental and pastoral care, while the laity took care of everything else. For him, this was a dream job. But before he could say yes, we needed to speak with his superior in Manhattan. The Provincial affirmed that, at 76, Raphael was a free agent, as long as he maintained a bond of community with the Capuchins. He suggested that Raphael could meet that requirement if he returned to New Paltz one night/week. With help from our Administrator, Fr. George Hommel, Fr. Raphael became Priest-in-Residence in 2013.

Raphael embraced the St. Francis community, ministering to his parishioners as well as the entire community of Phoenicia, which got to know him through his words and works. Because the
community is small, and everyone shows up at funeral masses, people of all faith traditions encountered Fr. Raphael through this special ministry. He presided with such tender compassion,
intelligence, and deep spirituality that people were moved, and knew they were in the presence of a holy man. They recognized and greeted him in the streets of the village, stopped him during the holiday season to give him cash, saying “You’ll know who needs some help” (he did), or asking him “Father, do you have a minute?” An hour later that person would be sitting on the rectory’s front porch with Raphael, deep in conversation. On a daily basis, Raphael walked the talk of the Gospel. He was fully present, loving, and compassionate to everyone he met. Like Francis, his patron, he asked for nothing, and gave away all gifts of clothing to the poor. His faith and joy were infectious! People who had given up on the Church began to return, and actively shared in the life of our community.

Raphael shepherded an eclectic flock with an open heart, keen wit and ready humor. He blessed horses, cats, dogs, and birds on St. Francis’ feast day in October, encouraged the parish’s families, welcomed the whole community’s school-age children and parents at the rectory driveway for Rotary’s cider and doughnuts finale to the Halloween Parade, blessed our parish’s annual community-wide Thanksgiving dinner, and welcomed and helped the community’s poor and needy, who regularly called on him. He hosted artists during the Phoenicia Festival of the Voice, and wore his Capuchin robes onstage for the Festival’s production of Bizet’s opera, Carmen – perfectly depicting the village priest surrounded by playful children. He joined the Phoenicia Rotary, guided the Parish Council, broke bread with community members during “small community” neighborhood meals, and welcomed collaboration in all aspects of parish life. He visited the sick and shut-ins, learned everyone’s name and story, fed us with his homilies, and modeled humility in his person. He even climbed ladders to fix things until we begged him to let others take care of small repairs! When a stroke limited his mobility, Raphael fought to return, and the community responded to make him comfortable and able to stay with us. We installed an electric chair lift in the rectory, and a post so he could step up to the altar. He continued to preside at weekend Mass while seated on a stool. No longer able to distribute Eucharist, he sat as the children approached him on the altar for their weekly blessing. Parishioners gladly offered food and helped him walk across the street. Morning Mass shifted to the rectory, where participants sat around a table in a very intimate sharing of the Word and the Eucharist. One morning, at dawn, Raphael opened the front door to find a shoeless young man sleeping between the storm door and the main door. He invited him inside, set him up in his recliner chair, and gave him a blanket. Morning Mass-goers just tiptoed by as he slept soundly. This was Raphael at work…! We had come to expect this kind of witness.
When Masses were suspended during COVID, the community was hungry for Raphael’s voice and words. With help from Parish secretary Jeanine Meisler, an email group was formed to share his weekly homily. At Easter, the parish organized a car parade to drive by the rectory as Raphael sat on the porch and greeted people in the joy of the Risen Christ. That spring, Daisy Sanford was with Fr. Raphael when he became ill. Recognizing that he might be having a heart attack, Daisy rushed him to Margaretville Hospital, where he was air-lifted to Westchester Medical Center. He recovered and began a second retirement at St. Lawrence Friary in Beacon, NY, where he preached locally, and continued to love and pray for the St. Frances de Sales community. He kept up on parish news, and often called people who needed special pastoral care. Many parishioners visited him regularly, and he was able to join us in Phoenicia for an annual picnic. Both parishioners and community members greatly anticipated these joyful opportunities to greet Raphael and receive his blessing. The St. Francis de Sales’ community did not disappoint. Raphael considered us his beloved family, and called Phoenicia his home. He often shared that his seven years with us were the happiest years of his whole career. Now, he has truly gone home. We celebrate his life, and are grateful that he lived, walked, and gave witness among us.

You may share a special memory, photo, or condolence on Fr. Raphael's Tribute Wall at www.gormleyfuneralhome.com

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