Chaplain leads with hope after Hurricane Sandy

Jersey Shore Chaplain says his area was devastated by the massive late fall storm . . .

Monsignor Leonard Troiano

Monsignor Leonard Troiano
Jersey Shore Chapter

After more than 30 years as a priest of New Jersey’s Trenton diocese, Monsignor Leonard Troiano, 67, faced one of the biggest challenges of his priesthood last fall when Hurricane Sandy devastated his parish. By late February, Monsignor Troiano still had not returned to his rectory, but was preparing to re-open St. Padre Pio Church in Lavalette for Sunday Mass. Before his current assignment, he held several diocesan positions, including director of communications and director of planning and development. He had also worked with the Society for the Propagation of the Faith.

Tell us about your call to the priesthood.

Going to a Catholic grammar school, there was always the thought of the priesthood. But as I got into high school, I began to think in other directions. The call came during the Lenten season when I would go to church every day. By then, I was 29 or 30. I met a young priest who said to me, “Have you ever thought of the priesthood?” I said, “Why would you say that?” and he said, “I can see it in you.” Looking back, I can also say my mother planted the seed. When I told her I had made the decision to go to seminary, she was not surprised at all. It will be 34 years this December that I was ordained. I have to say it’s probably been the most interesting and challenging, but the happiest 34 years of my life.

What is the most fulfilling aspect of your priesthood?

I enjoy preaching and the interaction with my parishioners. When Hurricane Sandy hit and I was displaced like everybody else in my parish, I was living at St. Elizabeth in Whiting, N.J. Celebrating a Mass Sunday morning, I looked out at the congregation and felt a sense of loss. I didn’t know them. It wasn’t my family. That’s when I realized that your parish family is such an important part of your life.

How has the hurricane affected your parish?

The parish facilities are made up of six buildings in two locations. Both were hit hard. At the Normandy Beach location, which we used only in the summer, the facilities will have to be razed. At Lavalette, the buildings that sustained the most damage were the parish hall and rectory. Both are in the process of repair and reconstruction. We lost all our records, computer equipment and phones. I’m operating out of a building 18 miles away. Before the storm, we had 600 to 700 households in the parish, but with destruction from the storm, many are not rebuilding or coming back.

You have a vocation, of course. Any avocations?

My love is music, so one of my great avocations is I like to go to the opera — the Met in New York — when I can. If not, I go to their new HD presentations in movie theaters. I also love to travel. My goal is to see as much of the world as I can before I’m too old to do that. I’ve traveled most of Europe and a good part of the U.S., and every winter I like to go to the Caribbean.

Are there any lessons you’ve learned as a priest that are especially apt for business leaders?

The greatest lesson I’ve learned in terms of being a pastor and looking at things from a business point of view is to be patient and to listen — and also at times to let people take the lead. I have found that when you let people use their own creativity, things happen.

Are there any devotions you recommend to Legates?

The greatest one is the rosary. I think it’s the leading devotion.