A beloved Malverne priest celebrates 30 years

Father Frank Parisi in his office at Our Lady of Lourdes last week.

Rossana Weitekamp

Father Frank made his First Holy Communion at Notre Dame church in New Hyde Park.

Courtesy Father Frank Parisi

he was ordained into the priesthood in 1985 at St. Agnes in Rockville Centre.

Courtesy Father Frank Parisi

father frank with his mother in an undated family celebration.

Courtesy Father Frank Parisi

pastor of our lady of lourdes Church for the past 10 years, Father Frank said daily prayers keep him going.

Sue Grieco

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On May 11, Father Frank Parisi of Our Lady of Lourdes in Malverne celebrated his 30th anniversary as a priest. He also celebrated his 10th anniversary as pastor of OLL, which boasts a congregation of over 2,400 families from Malverne and the surrounding areas.
The Herald met with Father Frank last week to discuss his priesthood, what inspired his calling, what makes the parish strong, and why he can’t get rid of static on televisions.

Q: When and where were you ordained?
I was ordained May 11, 1985 at St. Agnes Cathedral in RVC.

Q: What parishes did you belong to prior to Our Lady of Lourdes?
Before OLL, I was an associate pastor at St. Patrick’s in Smithtown for 11 years; before that, an associate pastor at St. Martin’s in Amityville for four years. My first assignment was St. Joseph’s in King’s Park for five years.

Q: Where were you born and raised?
I was born in Flushing but grew up in New Hyde Park, in the Notre Dame parish. I’m a 1971 graduate.

Q: What’s your educational background?
I went to St. Pius X seminary in Uniondale and then to St. Pius Cathedral College of the Immaculate Conception. I have a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a masters of divinity.

Q: What inspired your calling?
It really started when I was four years old. We used to go to church every week, and because my dad liked to sleep late on Sundays, we always went to the last mass at 12:30 pm. The last mass was always followed by the benediction. My earliest memories in the church were of the candles, the incense and the bells, and it was such a sense of peacefulness and sense of something sacred and special. I remember being very taken by that. That really made me feel the presence of God, even at the tender age of four years old.

But it became really special in 5th grade when I underwent altar boy training. The newly ordained priest John McCann of the Notre Dame parish, who is retiring this year, was the altar boy moderator. He talked a lot about himself, the things he did as a priest and I could tell by the way he talked that he was very, very happy in what he was doing. I thought to myself that maybe I could find that same happiness.