Don Luigi Portarulo, dalla Basilicata a New York: «La Chiesa qui è un ponte contro la solitudine»

**Italian Priest Don Luigi Portarulo Serves New York’s Italian Community**

*New York, NY –* Don Luigi Portarulo, a 39‑year‑old priest originally from the small town of Bernalda in the province of Matera, has become the first Italian pastor of St. Patrick’s Cathedral and St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral in Manhattan’s historic Little Italy. He arrived in New York in December 2022 after 23 years of ministry in Rome and the Vatican.

Portarulo was born into a devout family in Bernalda, a community of about 12,000 residents. He began his religious life as a “chierichetto” (altar boy) in Rome, a role he first accepted in 1999 after reading an advertisement in *Famiglia Cristiana* for the Jubilee of 2000. He was later chosen by Pope John Paul II to serve as a chierichetto at St. Peter’s Basilica. He studied philosophy, theology, and canon law in Rome and was ordained a priest on 9 June 2012.

After ordination, Portarulo worked in the Vatican Secretariat and also served in pastoral roles in Roman parishes. He has been active in sports, playing for the “Fabbrica di San Pietro” team and for the Italian national futsal team of priests. During the COVID‑19 pandemic he completed the New York Marathon.

In May 2022, the General Father of the Scalabrinians, a Catholic missionary order, called Portarulo to New York to serve as pastor of Our Lady of Pompeii. He accepted the invitation on 18 May, the anniversary of Pope John Paul II’s birth. A few months later he began celebrating Mass in Italian in Manhattan, despite not speaking English at the time.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, subsequently asked Portarulo to serve at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Fifth Avenue and at St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral. In these roles he conducts Mass, hears confessions, and meets with parishioners who pass through the city.

Portarulo’s ministry focuses on building community among Italian immigrants and their descendants. He offers Italian language courses for second‑generation Americans and English classes for new arrivals. The parishes host children’s activities, charity initiatives, cultural events, and social gatherings such as pizza nights and concerts. He also provides practical assistance with bureaucratic matters and emotional support.

To coordinate these efforts, Portarulo founded the non‑profit Grow Together Foundation. He describes the foundation as a bridge that helps newcomers avoid loneliness in the fast‑paced environment of New York City.

“I have seen how the Church can be a bridge against solitude,” Portarulo said. “We create a community of friendship, solidarity, and support. That is what keeps people from feeling alone.”

Portarulo plans to bring a relic of Saint Gennaro, patron saint of Naples, to New York for the liturgical commemoration on 19 September. The relic will be a replica of the statue that stands at the port of Naples, a tradition that greeted Italian emigrants centuries ago. He hopes the relic will serve as a symbol of hope and comfort for the large Neapolitan community in America.

Portarulo’s work illustrates the ongoing role of the Catholic Church in supporting immigrant communities in the United States, providing both spiritual and practical assistance to those who arrive in search of new opportunities.

Article and image source: famigliacristiana.it