Tribute Wall
Tuesday
23
July
Visitation at Sacred Heart Chapel
3:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Tuesday, July 23, 2024
Sacred Heart Chapel
1725 Brentwood Road, Building 3
Brentwood, New York, United States
Wednesday
24
July
Funeral Mass
11:00 am
Wednesday, July 24, 2024
Sacred Heart Chapel
1725 Brentwood Road, Building 3
Brentwood, New York, United States
Final Resting Place
St. Patrick's Cemetery
Brentwood Road
Bay Shore, New York, United States
Obituary
Fr. Gerald Joseph Fitzsimmons, S.M.M., a Montfort Missionary priest, died July 19, 2024 after a courageous battle with ALS; he was 76 years old. Born July 11, 1948, the son of Donal and Hazel (O’Reilly) Fitzsimmons, Fr. Fitz was raised in St. Teresa of Avila Parish in South Ozone Park and attended High School at Montfort Seminary in Bay Shore from 1962-1966. Completing his novitiate year at Montfort Novitiate in Hartford City, Indiana, he professed vows August 15, 1967. He received his undergraduate degree and Master of Divinity from St. Louis University, and was ordained a priest February 22, 1975.
He exercised a long and fruitful parish ministry, first at Infant Jesus Parish in Port Jefferson, 1974-1979, and then at St. Mary Gate of Heaven, Ozone Park, from 1981–1986 as Associate Pastor and again from 2009-2018 as Pastor. Father Fitzsimmons had a special calling and gift as a preacher of parish missions and retreats and from 1987 till his illness confined him, he travelled and preached across the United States, at times with a Team of priests and lay people or alone. From 1993-2006 he served as Provincial Superior of the Montfort Missionaries in the United States.
For many years Fr. Fitzsimmons assisted both nationally and internationally in helping victims of clergy abuse with a ministry of compassion, wisdom, and justice. He will be dearly missed and remembered by his sister, Margaret McAlvannah, her husband Tom and their children James and Nicole; by the McGuire Family; by his brothers and sisters in the Montfortian Family, and by the extraordinary number of people whose lives have been touched by Fr. Fitzsimmons in his nearly fifty years of priesthood.
The wake will be Tuesday July 23rd from 3:00 pm until 7:30 pm at the Sacred Heart Chapel Building 3 on the property of the Sisters of St. Joseph - Brentwood, 1725 Brentwood Road, Brentwood, NY 11717. The funeral Mass will be Wednesday July 24th at 11:00am at the same location as the wake.
In Lieu of Flowers
We ask that if you wish to donate in the name of Fr. Jerry, we would appreciate your gift to be given for the continued work of Montfortian Office of Safeguarding of Children and Vulnerable Adults. Please make out the check to the Montfort Missionaries, 26 South Saxon Ave. Bay Shore, NY 11706.
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The family of Fr. Gerald Fitzsimmons, S.M.M posted a condolence
Sunday, July 28, 2024
My relationship with Fr. Fitz was experienced through the masses I attended when he was presiding. With sincerity and passion Fr. Fitz spoke, and my head and heart listened to a masterful teacher. He taught me through concrete stories of others and stories of his own life what it means to live in the framework of faith. His faith stories were real, never fluff. His love of Jesus and the importance of the Eucharist were evident in his homilies.
As Fr. Fitz's neurological disease sadly took hold of his body, I was privileged to see him give his all as he celebrated mass with progressively less independence.
In thanking him for the gift of mass and his homily, he would answer, " My pleasure.". And I believed him.
With much gratitude for such a faithful servant of Our Lord,
Norine Bonanno
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Darrin John Pape lit a candle
Sunday, July 21, 2024
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Heavenly Father, we thank You for the life of the Minister Provincial. Grant him eternal rest and peace in Your loving embrace. May his soul rejoice in Your presence, and may his legacy inspire us to live in faith, humility, and love. Amen.
The family of Fr. Gerald Fitzsimmons, S.M.M. uploaded photo(s)
Saturday, July 20, 2024
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The family of Fr. Gerald Fitzsimmons, S.M.M. uploaded a photo
Saturday, July 20, 2024
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