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C 30 June 20, 2020 | TheTablet.org
Father Basile Died From COVID-19 Before his Silver Jubilee
Remembered as ‘full of
joy’ and a father to all
by Jessica Easthope
EAST ELMHURST — A man of
service and a father to all is how Father
Gioacchino Basile is described by those
who knew him best. Father Basile would
have celebrated the 25th anniversary
of his ordination last May. His life was
tragically cut short April 4.
Father Basile, pastor of Saint Gabriel’s
in East Elmhurst, Queens, was the second
priest in our diocese to pass away due to
complications associated with COVID-19.
Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn
said in a statement: “Father Gioacchino
Basile, a native of Calabria, Italy who died
today, was small in stature, but mighty in
energy for the Lord. Unfortunately, Father’s
underlying health conditions made it
difficult for him to fight the virus. In addition
to English and Italian, Father spoke Spanish
fluently and ministered well to all of the
people of his parish and the faithful of the
Diocese in Brooklyn and Queens.”
Father Basile, 60, was ordained a priest
on May 27, 1995. He first ministered as
parochial vicar at St. Joseph’s in New
Jersey, was then released to work in the
Diocese of Ponce (Puerto Rico), and then
released to the Diocese of Brooklyn, where
he was assigned Administrator of Saint
Gabriel’s in 2008.
A video of Father Basile singing at a
priest’s retreat is how his closest friend,
Father Sean Manson, wants to remember
him.
“He was full of joy. He wasn’t pompous,
he wasn’t preachy, he was a down-toearth
guy. You saw that God exists
looking at him,” explained Father Manson,
pastor of Our Lady Mother of the Church
in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.
Father Basile’s death came one week
after the passing of Father Jorge Ortiz-
Garay, the first U.S. priest believed to
have died from complications associated
with the coronavirus.
Father Gioacchino’s parishioners
considered him a spiritual guide, looking
to him during times of sadness and grief.
Jessie Lema is one of them.
Father Gioacchino Basile was to
celebrate the 25th anniversary of his
ordination to the priesthood on May 27.
“Maybe because I loved him so much,
he was a saint,” Lema said. “I give thanks
to God that he gave me the chance to
know him.”
“He always had a smile and made you
feel welcome, he heard my confessions
and was always available. He was a
spiritual father to me,” recalled Father
Miguel Angel Cervantes, now acting pastor
at St. Gabriel’s. He believes Father Basile
contracted the virus at church.
Father Basile was already on medical
leave from his duties as pastor at St.
Gabriel’s when it was discovered he had
contracted coronavirus.
“We had positive cases of coronavirus
in the parish and that’s how he got
the virus,” Cervantes said. “He was in
contact with the people when no one
knew it was present. “
Father Basile was trained in the
Neocatecumenal Movement and served
as the Spiritual Director of Redemptoris
Mater Seminary in Douglaston. He also
assisted as a chaplain at LaGuardia Airport.
St. Gabriel’s vicar, Father Bob Sandlack,
had been serving alongside Father Basile
for years. He said his parish has lost a
father, and he has lost a friend.
“In any situation, he was able to laugh.
He had an uplifting spirit, nothing saddened
him,” Sandlack recalled. “I’ll miss his love.”
A memorial Mass at St. Gabriel’s was
livestreamed on Wednesday, April 8, at
3:30 p.m. When social distancing is no
longer required, a public Mass will be held
in Father Basile’s honor.
Congratulations
to Father Dominick i F. Cutrone on his
65 th Anniversary
of Ordination to the Priesthood
June 4 1955 to June 4 2020
Love,
Father Vincent, Father Roy, Father Cassar,
Deacon Phil, Harry, Staff, and
the People of the Parish.
AD MULTOS ANNOS!