Priest unites New York’s Italian community through faith and shared experiences
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Father Luigi Portarulo, a priest from Bernalda, Italy, has become a central figure for the Italian community in New York City since arriving in December 2022.
The Scalabrinians congregation sent him to Manhattan to serve as a permanent Italian priest, a role he accepted after seeing it as a sign on the birthday of Pope John Paul II. He divides his time between St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Old St.
Patrick’s Church, celebrating Mass, hearing confessions, and offering support to both longtime residents and new arrivals. Father Luigi extends his outreach beyond the churches, offering Italian and English classes, children’s activities, and aid to those navigating life in a new country. He actively participates in New York’s sports culture, embracing the city’s enthusiasm for teams like the Knicks and drawing parallels between the unifying power of sport and faith.
He has gained recognition within the Italian-American community through a newspaper column, word of mouth, and a large WhatsApp group with over 1,000 families, which he uses to share information and offer assistance. He recently collaborated with FIFA and the Grow Together Foundation, a non-profit he founded, to host an event for Italians and Italian Americans featuring football stars.
Father Luigi recognizes the varying experiences of Italian emigrants, from those with established careers to those facing more challenging transitions, and strives to connect people with resources and support. He views his role as extending the church’s presence into everyday life, acknowledging that starting over in New York is difficult but possible, just as it was for earlier Italian immigrants like Saint Francesca Cabrini.
