Father James J. Caldarella Jr.

1943 - 2024

Father James J. Caldarella, Jr., 80, of Old Saybrook, formerly of Worcester, MA, died Thursday, January 25, 2024. Fr. Caldarella was born in Hartford, CT on July 27, 1943, the son of James J. Caldarella, Sr. and Rita M. Murphy Caldarella. He graduated from Talcott Jr/Sr High School, West Hartford, CT in 1958. He graduated from LaSalette Minor Seminary in Hartford, CT in June of 1961. In 1963 he received his A.A. degree from LaSalette College in Altamont, NY. In 1964 he took simple vows after attending LaSalette Novitiate in Bloomfield, CT. In June 1966 he received a BA from LaSalette Major Seminary in Ipswich, MA. He completed his studies for the priesthood at Catholic University in Washington, DC. In 1968 he joined the Diocese of Wheeling, WV and was ordained a deacon in March 1969.

In August 1969 he was assigned as deacon at St. Anthony Church, Follansbee, WV while teaching religion at Madonna High School in Weirton, WV. In February 1970 he was assigned as deacon to St. Thomas Church in Thomas, WV and its mission churches of St. Veronica, Davis WV and Our Lady of Mercy, Parsons, WV. In September 1970 he was assigned to Immaculate Conception Church in Clarksburg, WV. In March 1971 he came to the Diocese of Worcester serving as a deacon first at Notre Dame, Southbridge and then the Cathedral of St. Paul, Worcester. On October 23, 1971 he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Bernard Flanagan, D.D.

Following ordination, he was assigned as associate pastor in Blessed Sacrament Parish, Worcester. On June 15, 1973 he was named a co-pastor of Saint Mary of the Assumption, Milford. During this time, he received a Masters of Education Degree from Boston College. In December 1978 he was appointed associated pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Worcester.

In August 1983 he began studies at Duquesne University in Pittsburg, PA. He resided at the Oratory of St. Philip Neri assisting the Oratorian Fathers with campus ministry at the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University. In 1984, he received a Master Degree in Leadership in Formative Spirituality from Duquesne studying under Fr. Adrian van Kaam. He stayed for another year completing an additional 15 credits for a Certificate in Leadership in Spiritual Direction in 1985.

After a temporary assignment at St. Joan of Arc Parish in Worcester on November 15, 1985 he was named associate pastor of Our Lady of Loreto Parish, Worcester. On April 10, 1987 Fr. Caldarella was appointed pastor of Prince of Peace Parish, Princeton where he served the parish for 28 years. During that time, he conducted retreat weekends and weeklong Directed retreats at Saint Joseph by the Sea Retreat House in New Jersey while continuing to offer spiritual direction in his own diocese.

On July 1, 2014, he was appointed Minister of Priests, while remaining pastor. On July 1, 2015, he was appointed full time diocesan Minister to Priests with residence at St. Stephen Parish, Worcester and then Our Lady of Loreto, Worcester. He retired on July 1, 2018 where he moved to Old Saybrook, CT. He continued to serve on the Diocesan Review Committee. Upon retirement he was granted faculties for the Diocese of Norwich, CT where he continued to assist various parishes in the diocese.

Fr. Caldarella leaves behind his siblings Cal (Marianne), Ann (Tom), and Mark (Kate), his nieces and nephews David (Nora), Laurie, Kristen, and David, and his grand-nephews Bryan, Aidan, Matthew, Leo, James, Arturo, and Sean.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, February 2, at 11:00 am in St. John Church, 161 Main Street, Old Saybrook. Prior to Mass, there will be a calling hour from 10:00am to 11:00am. Fr. Caldarella's burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Maryknoll, a Catholic non-profit mission, or to a charity of choice. Online condolences may be made at www.SheehanHilbornBreen.com