Fr. Joseph A. Scopa C.S.

Fr. Joseph A. Scopa C.S. was born on September 21, 1923 in Simbario, Catanzaro, Italy. At nine years of age he migrated to the United States with his parents and his older sister and settled in Chicago.

He is the son of the late Frank and Mary (Nardi) and the brother of the late Frank. He is survived by a sister Catherine and two brothers Salvatore and Vito in Illinois.

He is a member of the Congregation of the Missionaries of St. Charles Borromeo (Scalabrinians).

He entered Sacred Heart seminary in Melrose Park, IL, and made his first religious profession as a Scalabrinian on September 9, 1946, and his perpetual profession on September 15, 1947. He was ordained a priest on May 27, 1948.

He was first assigned to Sacred Heart Seminary as vice-rector and in 1953 he was transferred to St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Melrose Park, IL. In 1960 he was transferred to Vancouver, BC, Canada, and in 1964 he was back in Chicago as pastor of St. Frances Cabrini Parish. In 1965 he was appointed Master of Novices in Staten Island, NY and on September 28, 1968 he was sent as pastor to St. Anthony's Church in Everett, MA. In 1978 he was appointed pastor of St. Rocco’s in Johnston, RI and on June 26, 1988 of St. Tarcisius Church in Framingham, MA.

In May 2002 he retired to the Blessed J.B. Scalabrini Residence in North Kingstown, RI where he died on May 27, 2011 on the day of the 63rd anniversary of his priestly ordination.

Father Scopa was involved early on with the Focolare Movement in the United States and was instrumental in the birth of the Movement in the Midwest in the 1950s.

Visiting Hours will be held Tuesday, in St. Rocco’s Church, 927 Atwood Avenue, Johnston from 8 - 10 AM. A Concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10:00AM. Interment in St. Ann’s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Fr. Scopa’s memory to the Blessed Scalabrini Residence, 860 No. Quidnessett Road. No. Kingstown, RI 02852. For online condolences, visit www.romanofuneralhome.com.