Father Thomas Joseph Siconolfi, C.Ss.R., was born in Brooklyn, NY, on October 30, 1943, to Anthony and Julia (Gleason), Father Siconolfi was baptized and confirmed at the Redemptorist parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. 

He entered the novitiate at St. Mary’s College, Ilchester, Maryland, where he professed first vows on August 2, 1964, and then St.  Alphonsus College, Suffield, CT, where he professed final vows on September 2, 1968, and from which he received his baccalaureate degree.

He attended the theologate at Mt. St. Alphonsus, Esopus, NY, receiving the M.Div. degree, and was ordained in its chapel on June 21, 1970.

After ordination, Father Siconolfi served as a missionary to Brazil in the Vice-Province of Campo Grande. “I will never forget when he told me he was going to Brazil after ordination. We were both equally surprised. We all received assignments at the same time. But off to Brazil Tom went. He loved Brazil, and he became fast friends with many of his parishioners.”

Father Ray Collins, C.Ss.R., said this in his homily during Father Siconolfi’s funeral Mass. During his ministry in Brazil, he was active with youth groups and could be found organizing outings and pilgrimages for them. He sometimes had the opportunity to fly over his parishes and loved to take photographs of them from above. 

“Tom had many key ministries as a missionary in Brazil and superior/pastor in the province. He was a wonderful priest with a great sense of humor,” Father Pat Woods, C.Ss.R., said when asked about Father Siconolfi.

In the Baltimore Province, Father Siconolfi served as associate pastor at Our Mother of Perpetual Help, Ephrata, PA; he was pastor and rector at Our Lady of Fatima, Baltimore; St. Mary’s, Annapolis; and St. Martin of Tours, Bethpage, NY. He served in retreat ministry at Notre Dame Retreat House in Canandaigua, NY, and as director at San Alfonso Retreat House, West End, NJ. Declining health brought him back to Ephrata, PA, where he lived at St. Clement’s Mission House until the time of his death.

While he was pastor of St. Mary’s in Annapolis, MD, he supervised the construction of the new mission church of St. John Neumann in that city. “He took on the very challenging and difficult task of building another church for the parish, which had outgrown the beautiful Saint Mary’s Church.” 

Father Woods told The Baltimore Beacon, “He was the leader who raised the funds, worked with the archdiocese and parishioners on the design of the church, and ultimately brought the project forward. The church holds nearly one thousand people and is very well attended on both weekdays and weekends." 

"Our growing Spanish community feels very welcomed at Spanish Masses held at the church. I have no doubt that the building of Saint John Neumann Church greatly moved the parish of Saint Mary’s forward. Next year, we will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the church.”

Father Collins summed up the way Father Siconolfi lived beautifully during his homily: “Until death comes for us, we are called to concentrate on life — this precious, unique, and unrepeatable life —that is a gracious gift of God! The best preparation for dying, therefore, is to live as fully, as lovingly, and as joyfully as we can! 

Father Tom’s family, dear friends, and former parishioners: Tom brought life to all of us in many different ways, and you gave life and shared your life and cared with him.”

Father Charles McDonald, C.Ss.R., who worked with Father Siconolfi in Brazil from 1978 to 1981, wrote a beautiful piece in memory of him. In the piece he said Father Siconolfi “had a deep sense of the people most in need of spiritual care, and of people in danger of being forgotten, many of whom lived literally for their daily bread on small plots of land.”

He continued: “He had a good heart for listening to people, and an understanding of the simplicity in the hearts of our farmers and cowboys. Everything Alphonsus teaches seemed to click in Tom’s day to day pastoral work, and he himself had a solid prayer life.”

Father McDonald concludes by saying: “I have no doubt that as soon as Tom arrived in eternal life, St. Alphonsus was there to shake his hand and say, “Thanks.” †