A memorial service will be held on Friday, Oct. 5 in Jackson Heights in honor of Father John Azzali, a Franciscan who was an associate pastor at an all-inclusive church in Jackson Heights.
Azzali founded the parish of Sts. Sergius & Bacchus Apostolic Church five years ago with Father Denis Couture. The parish, formerly located in Astoria, had found its home at the Community Methodist Church on 35th Avenue about three years ago.
Father Azzali died suddenly of a massive heart attack on Saturday, Sept. 22. He was 59.
Those who knew him remembered Azzali as a lifelong community activist. A resident of Jackson Heights for over 20 years, he had served as a board member of the Queens Pride House and Queens Gays & Lesbians United. He had also served on Community Board 3, as president of the Friends of the Jackson Heights Library, and as chairman of the Queens Network for Peace and Justice. But recently, it seemed, he had been devoting more time to the parish he helped found.
Bishop Frank Betancourt, also a member of the Franciscan Community of Reconciliation of the Catholic Apostolic Church in North America, ordained Azzali as a deacon 5 years ago. In 2006, Azzali was ordained a priest. Before becoming a member of the Catholic Apostolic Church, Azzali had been a member of the Capuchins, a Franciscan community within the Roman Catholic Church.
Betancourt said Azzali spent 13 years with the group before joining All Saints Episcopal Church in Sunnyside, where he served as a cantor for about eight years.
Then, Azzali took a different path, becoming a member of the all-inclusive Franciscan Community of Reconciliation, under the auspices of the Catholic Apostolic Church. His friends said he was a man who believed in welcoming all people to the faith.
In addition to his duties as associate pastor at Sts. Sergius & Bacchus, he was the community’s novice director, offering spiritual guidance to those preparing to join the Franciscan community.
As an associate pastor, Azzali conducted mass at the parish on Sundays. Betancourt noted that the pastor’s favorite time of year was the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, held on Oct. 4.
Father Denis Couture, associate pastor at the parish of Sts. Sergius & Bacchus Church, said Azzali had even begun serving as a choir master at the parish, picking up the music for services and lending a hand with other event planning.
“He gave his trust and his love to the people like a child does,” Couture said. “That’s just the way he did it.”
In a homily given the day he ordained Azzali as a deacon, Betancourt remembered the first day he had met him, at the Pride Parade in Manhattan. “John marched down the center of Fifth Avenue, past the cheering and jeering crowds with determination and purpose,” Betancourt recalled.
“He was proud of how our God created him and wanted so much for others to come to that same realization. That beautiful June day I not only made a good friend, a brother, I met someone who carried in his heart the broken, the discarded, the marginalized, the unwanted and unloved in society. What a tremendous responsibility to take upon oneself, a responsibility others might deem a heavy burden, but not so for John.”
Others who had worked with him over the years also offered kind words and fond remembrances. Charles Ober, president of the Queens Pride House, said Azzali “always exhibited a positive and jovial outlook.” Daniel Dromm, Democratic district leader for the 39th Assembly District, remembered Azzali as someone involved in almost everything in the borough. “A wonderful, wonderful man,” Dromm said. “A tremendous loss to the LGBT community.”
Jimmy Van Bramer, director of government and community affairs at Queens Library, knew Azzali for over 10 years through his work with the library system, and the Jackson Heights branch in particular. He said Azzali was a constant presence at library events and an advocate for increased services and programs.
Azzali, he added, cared very much about his community and was involved in a wide range of issues in addition to offering his support to the LGBT community.
“He was the kind of community activist we need more of,” said Gary Miller, former chairman of the Queens Pride House, adding that Azzali was the kind of person who would provide help to anyone who came to him.
The parish of Sts. Sergius & Bacchus Church was founded under the Catholic Apostolic Church in North America as a place accepting all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation. Although the small parish rents space from the Community Methodist Church, Miller said it is thriving and that services are well-attended by the community. Azzali had used his own apartment as the parish’s office.
Couture noted that many people who were pushed away from mainline churches because of their sexual orientation have found a home at the parish he helped create with Azzali, his friend and fellow pastor.
The parish of Sts. Sergius & Bacchus Catholic Apostolic Church will honor Azzali with a memorial service at 7 p.m. on Friday at the Community Methodist Church, located at 81-10 35th Ave.