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October 6, 2016
By Father Henry Sattler, C.Ss.R.
Brother Christopher (Riccardo) Colarossi, C.Ss.R., died October 5, 2016, at the age of 74. The son of Pasquale Colarossi and Sandra Colarossi (Teranzio), he was born on June 22, 1942, in Manhattan. He was baptized at St. Matthew Church on West 68th Street on August 30, 1942.
Brother Christopher first joined the Christian Brothers of Ireland. He spent two years in their Juniorate, one year in their novitiate, and one year in their Scolasticate. When his temporary vows expired, he and the Christian Brothers mutually decided that this was not his vocation.
He missed religious life and applied to join the Redemptorists on July 10, 1962.
“I want to serve Our Lord as a religious, and I believe I can best do so as a Redemptorist,” Brother Christopher wrote. With recommendations from two Christian Brothers, he was accepted into the brothers’ formation program in September 1962. He professed temporary vows on August 2, 1964, and final vows on August 2, 1969.
Brother Christopher’s service of the Lord brought him to Mount St. Alphonsus, Esopus, N.Y., from 1966 to 1967; St. Alphonsus College, Suffield, Conn., 1967-1968; St. John Neumann Residence in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., 1968-1969; Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Ilchester, Md., 1969; back to St. John Neumann Residence in Saratoga Springs, 1969-1986, during which time he became a licensed practical nurse; St. Cecilia Parish in New York, 1986; Immaculate Conception in Bronx, 1987; St. Cecilia, 1995; Our Lady of Perpetual Help in New York City, August 1998; and Our Lady of Good Counsel, Brooklyn, 2015-2016.
During his time at St. John Neumann Residence, the Superior had this to say about Brother Christopher: “His outstanding virtue is congeniality. He is well liked by Father and by brothers young and old.” He loved working for the sick confreres, and they loved him in return.
Brother Christopher volunteered at the Holy Family Soup Kitchen while he was serving at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Manhattan. In 2012 he received an award for having volunteered more than 3,000 hours. He continued this until 2015, even after moving to Brooklyn.
May Our Lord reward his years of service and give him the peace and joy of heaven.
Brother Christopher Colarossi, C.Ss.R.
- Born: June 22, 1942
- Professed: August 2, 1964
- Died: October 5, 2016