PD Obituaries

March 7, 2010

Rev. Mario S. Buttini, O.S.J.

March 2, 2010

Rev. Mario S. Buttini, O.S.J., a member of the Congregation of the Oblates of Saint Joseph and Pastor Emeritus of Saint Rocco’s Church, Pittston, died March 2, 2010, at the St. Joseph Marello Rest Home, Asti, Italy.

Born November 30, 1913, Father Buttini was born in Villa Franca Lunigiana (Tuscany), Italy. He entered the minor seminary of the Oblates of Saint Joseph in Asti, Italy, at the age of 13 and made his first religious vows in 1931. He was ordained a priest in the Cathedral of Alba, Italy, on June 29, 1939. In December of that same year, just at the onset of World War II, he came to the United States and was first assigned assistant pastor of St. Rocco’s Church, Pittston, and later at St. Anthony of Padua Church, Exeter. In 1946, he was sent to Santa Cruz, Calif., serving first as master of novices and then in 1952 was appointed provincial superior of the Oblate Western Province. After serving six years as provincial, he was then assigned to Saint Joachim’s Church, Madera, Calif., where he served as both assistant pastor and pastor from 1958 through 1964. Father Buttini then served the Congregation of the Oblates of Saint Joseph on an international level by serving first as Vicar General from 1964 through 1969 and then as Superior General from 1969 through 1975. He then returned back to the United States and served the Oblates of St. Joseph Pennsylvania Province as pastor of St. Rocco’s Church until 1994, and as provincial superior from 1979 through 1985 and 1994 through 97. From 1994 until last year, he was residing at the Oblates of Saint Joseph Seminary, Laflin, where he served as rector.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the Shrine of Saint Joseph, Asti, Italy on March 4, by the Very Rev. Michael Piscopo, O.S.J., Superior General of the Oblates of Saint Joseph Congregation; and concelebrated by the Very Rev. Paul A. McDonnell, O.S.J., Provincial Superior of the Pennsylvania Province. Interment Asti Cemetery at the burial plot of the Oblates of St. Joseph.

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