1885 – 1947 (October 16)
Bartholmew Pizzuto was born in Valletta, Malta, on August 24, 1885, where he entered the Order and was professed as a member of the Maltese Province on August 24, 1903. He was ordained on June 3, 1909, and left for America in December, 1920, with two other Maltese friars, Fathers Aurelio Ciantar and Gelasius (Joseph) Bugeia.
Father Pizzuto’s first assignment as a member of the Italian Mission was to Saint Nicholas of Tolentine Church in Philadelphia. From 1931 to 1939 he was the pastor of Our Lady of Pompeii Church in Dobbs Ferry, New York. In 1939 he was named pastor of Saint Mary’s Church in East Vineland and, among other projects, supervised the construction of a parish hall under the church. He also made improvements on the church and friary.
In October of 1947 Father Pizzuto became seriously ill and was rushed to Hahnemann Hospital in Philadelphia by Father Anthony Cirami and a parishioner. The operation was successful but post-operative infections set in and with these his death occurred on October 16, 1947. He was 62 years old.
Father Pizzuto had dedicated twenty-seven years of active ministry to the Vice Province of Philadelphia at the time of his death.
The bishop of Camden, Most Rev. Bartholomew Eustace, presided at the Solemn Funeral Mass after which Fr. Pizzuto was buried in the Augustinian section of Saint Mary Cemetery, East Vineland.
