Rev. Mr. Robert F. Rienzo, who is set to be ordained as the newest priest of the Diocese of Allentown, likes to relax by making soup.
“Anyone who was with me in seminary knows I love to cook soups,” he said. He pointed out that soup is very versatile – you can make it in many ways, and with many ingredients, to satisfy many different people.
In a way, Deacon Rienzo will bring that same philosophy to the Priesthood.
“I strive to be people oriented,” he said. “As we read in the Gospels, Jesus is the expert in everything human, especially in personal interactions. He knows ahead of time what people’s needs might be and how to best meet them where they are.
“That ability, intuition, and emotional intelligence, to be part of a community and to be attentive to different personalities in a community,” he said, “that is something I hope to do well, striving after Christ.”
Rienzo will be ordained by Bishop Alfred Schlert in a Mass that begins at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 7 at the Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena, Allentown. All are invited.
He is the son of Dr. Robert Rienzo and Dr. Catherine Rienzo. He grew up in Macungie and attended St. Thomas More Elementary School and Emmaus High School. Rienzo, 33, is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and Pre-Med, and a Master’s degree in Education.
He taught science and religion at middle schools in Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia for three years before entering St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Philadelphia, in 2017.
In addition to cooking, he enjoys skiing, tennis, pickleball, and volleyball.
Asked what he would say to someone who might want to be a priest someday, his advice is simple: “Pursue the steps, one at a time. Our Lord who calls us will provide along each step of the way.”
“My formation has taught me that Mother Church cares for each one of us, very concretely and specifically,” he said. “I am very grateful for the care I have received, so my mission as a priest will be to give that gift to others – the care of the Church for souls and for those I serve in ministry.”
The Priestly Ordination will be livestreamed on the Diocese news website, AD Today, and on the Diocese’s YouTube and Facebook channels. It can also be viewed on television on Service Electric Channel 50.
Photo by Norm Steinruck.
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