The REV. Philip J. Cascia, 55, of Our Lady Of Mercy Church, Plainville,
CT. died Tuesday, Jan. 16 at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford after a
brief illness. He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Hartford
on May 28, 1977 at the Cathedral of St. Joseph by Bishop John F.
Whealon. He first served at St. Francis Xavier Church and was then
transferred to St. Anthonys. He was also chaplain of Sacred Heart High
School were he was very active in their sports programs. He coached
teams at the school and arranged to take student athletes to the Soviet
Union and Cuba to play in sports games there. On Feb.1, 2000, Congress
nominated Father Cascia for the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in sports
through the Intersports USA program. Father Cascia was also instrumental
in arranging the trip to Cuba for Pope John Paul II in 1998. He had
previous contacts with the Cuban government through the sports teams
that he coached and took to Cuba. A funeral Mass for Father was held at
Our Lady of Mercy Church on Saturday Jan. 20. Graveside prayers were
then held at St. Patricks Cemetery in Enfield, CT. The Buckmiller
Brothers Funeral Home of Prospect, CT. were in charge of the
arrangements. The world has lost a Great man for sure! He will always be
known as the pastor who connected kids worldwide through sports
organizations. May Father Cascia Always Rest In Peace, Amen! From, Tom
Coss of Meriden, Connecticut
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