Our Lady of the Assumption Parish Bids Farewell to "Fr. Gene"

WOODBRIDGE/BETHANY, CT - The Catholic Faith Community of Our Lady of the Assumption Church said goodbye to their beloved former pastor Monsignor Gene E. Gianelli on Monday evening at the Center Road Church with visitation from 4pm to 6pm and a parish Mass that began at 7pm.

The 100 parishioners in attendance were required to make a reservation to attend by calling the church office on Monday of last week or by signing up via an online form. As attendees arrived for the Parish Mass, they were required to have their names checked off on a master list by one of the volunteers and use the provided hand sanitizer before entering the sanctuary.

Everyone who came to the two-hour long visitation prior to the Mass was able to sign the visitation book and proceed through the church without sitting in a pew while wearing a mask; reservations were not required for the visitation as Fr. Gene, as he preferred to be called, lay in state in front of the altar, his casket topped with a deep purple and pink floral casket spray.

“He who seeks only himself brings himself to ruin, whereas he who brings himself to naught for My sake discovers who he is” - Matthew 10:39

The official funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2020 at 11am; this Mass will be by invitation only in order to keep the number of attendees below the required 100 persons in total. The Most Reverend Archbishop Leonard P. Blair will be the principal celebrant of the Funeral Mass. Link to Youtube video of the Funeral Mass posted below.

August 11, 2020 at the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption, Woodbridge, CT. Please note that Archbishop Blair was not amplified through the sound system, and accordingly, is significantly lower in volume than the rest of those participating in the Mass.

The celebrant for the Parish Mass was Monsignor Gary Simeone, a friend of Fr. Gene’s. The Concelebrants were Monsignor John Georgia and the Reverend Christopher M. Ford. There was a large printed program available that featured a beautiful photograph of “Fr. Gene” and artwork by Elizabeth Smolinski, an art teacher for the Amity school district.

Before the Mass began, the less than 100 mourners took their seats at socially-distanced intervals, and members of the adult choir like myself sat at least 6 feet away from each other in the choir area. Five members of the family sat in the front row

The opening hymn chosen by the Director of Sacred Music Dr. Keith Smolinski was “Hosea” by Weston Priory. The cantor for both of the Masses was Elizabeth Smolinski. During the entrance song, members of Fr. Gene’s family placed the baptismal pall over the closed casket; this recalls his baptism. A large crucifix and the Book of Gospels was also placed upon the casket.

The Mass proceeded with the Liturgy of the Word. Sister Dorellen Sullivan, who worked with Fr. Gene for a long time at OLOA, proclaimed beautifully both the first and second readings. The first reading was from the Book of Wisdom 3:1-6,9 and the second reading chosen was from Romans 8:31b-35, 37-39, which reminds us that we are children of God. In between the two readings, Dr. and Mrs. Smolinski sang a duet of the responsorial psalm, an original composition by Dr. Smolinski Psalm 110: “You are a Priest Forever.”

After the Gospel Acclamation “Alleluia! Give the Glory” by Ken Canedo, the Gospel Luke 24:13-35 (“The Road to Emmaus”) was read by the main celebrant. The Gospel will be read by Deacon Jack Mordecai on Tuesday.

The homily at the Funeral will be given by Monsignor John Georgia. He spoke with fondness of Fr. Gene’s annual June dinner that he hosted for a group of his brother priests from the area and how he let the priests know when it was time to leave. “He could be a little direct, a little blunt” when he needed to be, said the Monsignor, and Fr. Gene was a gifted storyteller,” he added. He also related an incident when the parking attendant at Portofino Restaurant asked for Fr. Gene at Monsignor Georgia’s most recent visit. When the man was told of Fr. Gene’s death, he shared how Father had always spoken kindly to him during his frequent visits to the restaurant.

Fr. Gene served as secretary to Archbishop Whealon, but his heart was truly in parish work. Fr. Gene always made time for his brother priests and with his seemingly boundless energy wore many hats during his priesthood of 50 years. When he became ill, he accepted his illness and with joy, continued to lead others to the Lord as best as he was able.

The Liturgy of the Eucharist opened with the Offertory Hymn “Remember Me When You Eat This Bread,” written by Bailes and Boesiger. The Mass settings featured music by Gokelman and Kauffman. The Communion Hymns, while those who wished to received filed past the casket in single file, were “Called by the Spirit,” an original composition by Dr. Smolinski, and “Pie Jesu” by A.L. Weber. Both songs were beautiful duets performed by the Smolinskis. The Song of Meditation was a duet of “Panis Angelicus” by Cesar Franck.

After the Closing Prayer and Final Commendation by the main celebrant, the closing was Dan Schutte’s “City of God.” At the Funeral Mass on Tuesday, the traditional priests’ farewell “Salve Regina” will be sung.

The principal concelebrants for the Funeral Mass are scheduled to be Monsignor Joseph Donnelly, Monsignor John Georgia, Monsignor Gerald Schmitz, Monsignor James Shanley, Monsignor Gary Simeone, Monsignor David Walker, Reverend Francois Eale, Reverend Christopher M. Ford, the current pastor of Our Lady of the Assumption, Reverend Daniel Keefe, Reverend Daniel McLearen, Reverend John Melnick, and Reverend Joseph Sidera, as well as priests from the Archdiocese of Hartford as concelebrants. The altar servers will be Karen Cusick and Nikki Antinozzi. The homily will be given by Monsignor Gary Simeone, the Pastor of St. Gregory the Great in Bristol.

I will remember Fr. Gene walking past the Adult Choir before Mass with a large Dunkin’ iced tea, for he always reminded me of the Energizer Bunny before and even following the onset of his illness. A sincere thank you to Dr. and Mrs. Smolinski for providing the absolutely beautiful music for both Masses; Fr. Gene truly would have enjoyed every note.

All artwork done by Elizabeth Smolinski

According the online sign up, these parishioners were in attendance at the Parish Mass; thank you for representing the parish community.

Anne Marie Antinozzi, Nicole Antinozzi, Paula Idarola, Louis Proto, Annette Proto, Patrick Mastrianni, Margret Mohlman, Mara Nicholas, John Ferretti, Diane Ferretti, Dorothy Martino, Nancy Bradley, Nicki Anschutz, Louis Ritucci, Diane Ritucci, Helen Lasto, Corrine Schioppp, Liz DeSarbo, Nancy Sasso Janis, John Caprio, David Pfund, Stephen Pfund, Mary Quinn,Robert & Mary Hill, Paulette Belletto, Patrick Mastroianni, Cindy Marien, Cindy Marien, Mary Press, David Orteleva, Carolyn Wiederecht, Pat Crisco, Joseph Crisco, Bob Blythe, Susan Antinozzi, Kim Ahern, Jude Ahern, Mary Eastman, Frank Chimbole, Charles Rivellini, Mike Cala, Celeste Cala, Elizabeth Parcella, Todd Bussert, Dominick Reis, Geraldine Reis, Marc Vincent, Kathy Harris, Nancy Cavallaro, Adeline Stango, Kathy Boufford, Gale Tirrell, Jim Tirrell, Nanci Brochinsky, Karen Annunziata, Albert Annunziata, Ed Magda, Aileen Madga, Marisa Seales, Allene Kelly, Chris Laydon, Elmer, Betty McVeety, Kristy Laydon, Ellie Sheehy, Brian Burland, Bob Ellis, Melissa Federico, Mary Federico, Darlene Smith, Deana Elbert, Vicky Burford, Vicky Burford, Andy Potochney, Janis Potochney, John Aversa, Heidi Aversa, Shannon Lynch, Harry Tuttle, Kay Tuttle, Douglas Harrigan, Paul Harrigan, Darlene Ragozzine and Roberta Alvarez.