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Reverend Salvatore Rodino’s Ministry
“The priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus”
~ St. John Vianney, Patron Saint of Parish Priests
St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Community
The parishioners of St. Jude the Apostle Parish were heavenly blessed the day that Father Salvatore Rodino arrived to St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Community in 2005. Over the past five years, Father Rodino has demonstrated his exceptional pastoral duties, liturgical and leadership functions with the utmost dedication and unselfish service. It is truly a testament to his vocation when former parishioners leave their neighborhood churches to follow their spiritual leader and friend, Father Rodino.
Father Salvatore Rodino is a remarkable spiritual advisor and pastor, an amazing administrator, and a strong leader. He has devoted 30 years of his life respectfully and faithfully serving God and his people and he has touched the hearts and lives of so many people. He has brought families together and brought people back to the Catholic Church. Father Rodino has and continues to bring people closer to God through him, because of him and NOW for HIM.
When Father Rodino came to St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Community both our church and school were in severe debt and the enrollment and attendance were extremely low. Thorough his tireless efforts, acute management skills and his incredible fundraising activities – Father Salvatore Rodino not only pulled our parish out of debt but under his leadership he increased the enrollment in our school and church. Our faith formation and RCIA also increased significantly due to Father Sam. He brought the Life Teen Program to St. Jude the Apostle Church, which has proven to be a huge success. We now have teenagers from all over the Capital Region inquiring about our particular program and joining our teens in this great mission. Father Sam started “Project Praise” which is a contemporary Christian music band which plays at our Life Teen Masses every Sunday and he considerably enhanced our music ministry within our parish.
Father Rodino not only built a strong community among his parishioners at St. Jude the Apostle but within the entire community of North Greenbush, New York.
Under Father Sam’s leadership much needed improvements and repairs were accomplished to our church, school and grounds. In church he installed a restroom; repainted the entire interior; restored the Stations of the Cross; installed new flooring on the altar and rebuilt the altar stairs to comply with building codes; reconditioned and re-stenciled our parish sign; updated the sound system; restored our beautiful Sacred Heart statute which is now on display; installed new lighting in front of the church and along our walkways; provided beautiful banners to display on our altar; repaired and painted all the church windows.
In addition, even more significant repairs were completed to our school. Our school kitchen received new counter tops and a serving station; new convection ovens, sinks, and coolers; replaced all the old lighting in all the classrooms; replaced old flooring in hallways and several classrooms; installed air conditioning in the computer room and school office; updated all the older electrical outlets in the older classrooms; installed new walkway at school entrance; expanded the school’s computer system so that all classrooms are internet connected; installed large bulletin boards outside each classroom; installed a fire suppression system in the school kitchen; repainted school hallways and gym; installed a new telephone system in the school, church, rectory and parish office; updated the pre-k playground; replaced school bathrooms; purchased new library tables; remodeled the space in back of the gym to provide for an additional classroom, changing rooms and storage space; established a play yard for the older children complete with new age appropriate exercise equipment; and painted exterior of Dammann Hall and Pre-K wing.
Furthermore, a new security system was installed for the school, church, rectory and parish office; repaved and resealed all three parking lots; replaced the overhead garage door and steps to the rectory.
In 2009, he began the First Annual Easter Cross Memorial in remembrance of deceased parishioners in which over 300 white wooden crosses with names were beautifully displayed on our parish lawn during Holy Week. It symbolizes the transition from death to life and reminds people that everyone experiences loss and suffering. But that we all will rise with Jesus as he did on Easter.
Father Salvatore Rodino is outstanding when it comes to coordinating his fundraising events. He created our Annual International Food Festival. This past year our parish raised over $10,000 in just one day. If he’s not planning parish bus trips, he is planning pot luck dinners, picnics or arranging dinner specials with various restaurants in the area to bring together his parish family.
Lastly, it is important to recognize that Father Rodino accomplished so much more than what has been mentioned. While managing various construction projects; fundraisers or church and school functions and meetings, Father Sam also performed daily 8:00 a.m. masses at St. Jude’s; noon masses at St. Michael’s Church as well as our weekend masses. This does not include the many baptisms, marriages, and funerals he officiated for both churches.
Father Rodino is a true man of faith. Everything he does is done with great style and extreme grace. St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Community is so extremely proud and honored to have Father Salvatore Rodino as our pastor and mentor. We are anxiously awaiting his return. What a glorious day that will be when God brings Father Rodino back to us…back home to St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Community.