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Father James J. Caldarella Jr.

Father James J. Caldarella Jr., 80, of Old Saybrook, formerly of Worcester, Massachusetts, died on Jan. 25, 2024. Fr. Caldarella was born in Hartford on July 27, 1943, the son of James J. Caldarella Sr. and Rita M. Murphy Caldarella.

He graduated from Talcott Junior/Senior High School, West Hartford, in 1958. He graduated from LaSalette Minor Seminary in Hartford, in June of 1961. In 1963, he received his A.A. degree from LaSalette College in Altamont, New York. In 1964, he took simple vows after attending LaSalette Novitiate in Bloomfield. In June 1966, he received a B.A. from LaSalette Major Seminary in Ipswich, Massachusetts. He completed his studies for the priesthood at Catholic University in Washington, D.C. In 1968, he joined the Diocese of Wheeling, West Virginia, and was ordained a deacon in March 1969.

In August 1969, he was assigned as deacon at St. Anthony Church, Follansbee, West Virginia, while teaching religion at Madonna High School in Weirton, West Virginia. In February 1970, he was assigned as a deacon to St. Thomas Church in Thomas, West Virginia, and its mission churches of St. Veronica, Davis, West Virginia, and Our Lady of Mercy, Parsons, West Virginia. In September 1970, he was assigned to Immaculate Conception Church in Clarksburg, West Virginia. In March 1971, he came to the Diocese of Worcester, serving as a deacon first at Notre Dame, Southbridge, and then at the Cathedral of St. Paul, Worcester. On Oct. 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 master’s of education degree from Boston College. In December 1978, he was appointed associate pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Worcester, Massachusetts. In August 1983, he began studies at Duquesne University in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. 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’s 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 Nov. 15, 1985, he was named associate pastor of Our Lady of Loreto Parish, Worcester, Massachusetts. On April 10, 1987, Fr. Caldarella was appointed pastor of Prince of Peace Parish, Princeton, Massachusetts, 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, Massachusetts, and then Our Lady of Loreto, Worcester, Massachusetts. He retired on July 1, 2018, when he moved to Old Saybrook. He continued to serve on the Diocesan Review Committee. Upon retirement, he was granted faculties for the Diocese of Norwich, 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 grandnephews, Bryan, Aidan, Matthew, Leo, James, Arturo and Sean.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 2, in St. John Church, 161 Main Street, Old Saybrook. Prior to Mass, there will be a calling hour from 10 to 11 a.m. 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.