Essex County honors Nutley priest during Italian Heritage Month
The Essex County Board of County Commissioners honored Father Thomas D. Nicastro, V.F., M.Div., pastor of Saint Mary’s Parish in Nutley, at its annual Italian Heritage Month celebration on Thursday, Oct. 5.
The event is held yearly to celebrate the accomplishments of men and women of Italian heritage and honor outstanding Essex County citizens for their unique contributions to the county and society as a whole. Commissioner Leonard Luciano introduced Father Nicastro and presented him with his award.
“Not only is he our father and our priest, he is our friend,” Luciano said.
Father Nicastro said he felt 1,000 heartfelt thanks for the beautiful honor.
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He also said the honor should be going to his grandparents and parents, who were his first teachers of the Italian language and heritage.
“They brought with them a great treasure,” he said, citing their customs and traditions; Catholic faith and love for the church, the Blessed Mother, and the saints; gift of family and respect for grandparents and parents; family celebrations and feast days; Italian cuisine and homemade wine; and gardens with fig trees, grape vines, and tomatoes.
“These were their great treasures, their contributions to the new world,” he said.
Father Nicastro was born on Feb. 8, 1961, in Newark. He was a parishioner of St. Francis Xavier Church and attended Essex Catholic High School in Newark, graduating in 1979 with honors in religion.
He attended Seton Hall University and the College Seminary of the Immaculate Conception, receiving a B.A. in modern languages. He completed his theological studies for the Roman Catholic priesthood on May 22, 1989, receiving a Master of Divinity degree in Pastoral ministry from Immaculate Conception Seminary in South Orange.
He was ordained a transitional deacon in 1989 and a priest in 1990 for service in the Diocese of Bridgeport, Conn. In 2003, Father Nicastro was released to serve in the Archdiocese of Newark and, in 2008, was incardinated there. He has since served in various parishes in the Archdiocese.
In 2020, Father Nicastro became the administrator of St. Mary’s in Nutley and, in 2021, was installed as the 14th pastor of St. Mary’s. He has also served as chaplain for a wide range of organizations: the Belleville Police Department, the St. Mary’s Council Knights of Columbus (2011), the Nutley P.B.A., the Nutley Police Department (2012), the West Essex Chapter of UNICO National, the Federation of Italian American Societies of New Jersey, the St. Gerard Men’s Society and Ladies Guild of Newark, the Columbian Foundation, and the Rosary prayer group of North Caldwell.
In August 2023, Father Nicastro was appointed to a five-year term as dean of Deanery 16, (vicar forane), receiving the title Very Reverend. On Dec. 9, he will be knighted in the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Emmanuel Philibert of Savoy, Prince of Venice and Piedmont.
Father Nicastro is also a life-long devotee to St. Gerard, whose intercession is sought for children, unborn children, women in childbirth, and mothers. St. Gerard is a devotion of his family for 150 years. In 2012, Father Nicastro published the book “The Feast of St. Gerard Maiella, C.Ss.R.: A Century of Devotion at St. Lucy’s, Newark, New Jersey.” The feast took place the weekend of Oct. 14 at St. Lucy’s, the Italian Enclave, and the National Shrine of St. Gerard, in Newark. He is in the process of writing another book on St. Gerard.
This year, the Board of Commissioners also recognized Richard Vallario, Esq., Livingston attorney and community leader; Giuseppe Joseph Ottaiano, owner of Calabria Restaurant & Pizzeria in Livingston; and the Nutley-Belleville Columbus Day Parade and Italian Heritage Committee represented by Chair Edie Peters Liguori.
“Today, we celebrate Italian heritage, culture, and the contributions of some of our finest Essex County residents of Italian descent,” said Luciano. “As an Italian-American, I am proud to take part in tonight’s ceremony. We salute all of our honorees for their tremendous efforts – we have all benefitted as a community because of your contributions. Thank you for all you do and congratulations.”
Commissioner Brendan Gill said he was honored to be alongside his colleagues to celebrate Italian heritage and recognize the achievements of a few members of the Italian-American community in Essex County.
“Tonight, we are thrilled to honor Italian Americans who have worked hard, are successful, and – most importantly – have given back to their communities,” Gill said.
Featured image: Father Nicastro and Commissioner Luciano (Courtesy Essex County).
