officially retired on July 31, 2024,
Born on October 23, 1947, Father Sam grew up on Staten Island, New York City, surrounded by a warm and lively Italian family. He fondly recalls Sunday gatherings filled with love, laughter, and good food, as well as summer beach parties and thrilling rides on the Cyclone Roller Coaster at Coney Island.
While his classmates in Grade 2 dreamt of becoming policemen, astronauts, or firefighters, young Sam already knew he wanted to be a priest in a warm part of the world. To pursue this calling, he joined the Missionaries of St. Charles Borromeo (Scalabrini Fathers) after Grade 8, continuing his high school and college studies within the community. He later pursued Theology at the University of Toronto. During his second year, he left the religious order and was invited to join the Archdiocese of Winnipeg, where Cardinal George Bernard Flahiff welcomed him as a seminarian.
Father Sam was ordained to the priesthood on February 15, 1979, at St. Edward the Confessor Parish in Winnipeg. He remembers the day clearly—not for the warmth he once dreamed of, but for the -42°C temperature and wind chill of -50°C, a proper Manitoba welcome!
His ministry began at St. Peter’s Parish, where he served as a deacon and later at St. Edward’s, first as associate pastor (1978–1982) and then as pastor until 1990. He became pastor of St. Anthony of Padua in West Kildonan on July 1, 1990, and on August 1, 1995, he began his long and beloved service at Holy Rosary Church.
Throughout his ministry, Father Sam was known not only for his pastoral care but also for his love of travel, especially to his ancestral homeland of Italy, which he visited often. One of his most memorable trips was in 1997, traveling from New York to Italy, enjoying cities rich in history, Italian cuisine, and the beauty of Portofino.
In 2012, Father Sam and Rabbi Rose organized Manitoba’s first interfaith pilgrimage to Rome and Jerusalem, fostering understanding and unity between Jewish and Catholic communities. The Free Press published an article about the trip with the title A Priest and a Rabbi
On March 19, 2019, Father Sam received the inaugural Sons of Italy “Heart of the Lion” Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his lifelong commitment and extraordinary contributions to the community.
Known for his traditional ways, Father Sam surprised many by embracing technology during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2022). He upgraded the parish to support live-streamed Masses, learned to Zoom, and even bought his first cellphone during a Toronto blizzard—today he uses it to text, FaceTime, and stay connected with friends and parishioners.
Since retiring, Father Sam has remained active, celebrating Mass in both city and rural parishes, enjoying movies, travel, and daily walks at the Pan Am track. He continues to be a visible and cherished presence at Holy Rosary and throughout the Archdiocese.
Father Sam says he is deeply grateful to all the parishioners who have blessed his life with their faith, generosity, and love from his first assignment at St. Peter’s to his final days as pastor at Holy Rosary.