Meet the clergy and staff of St. Francis of Assisi Parish.
S Francis of Assisi Parish
318 Church Street
Naugatuck, CT 06770
203 729-4543
Clergy & Stafff
Fr. Slusz was born in New Britain, CT on May 4, 1975 and grew up in Bristol, Connecticut. He graduated from Bristol Eastern High School in 1993. He then attended Central Connecticut State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting in January 1998. After graduating from CCSU, he worked for Haggett-Longobardi, LLC, a public accounting firm, until July 1998. Fr. Slusz then entered the seminary formation program in Bloomfield, where he completed his philosophical studies. He then was sent to Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, MD where he earned a Master of Divinity in May 2003.
Fr. Slusz was ordained to the Sacred Priesthood of Jesus Christ by Archbishop Daniel A. Cronin on June 7, 2003 and was assigned to St. Francis of Assisi Church in Naugatuck as a parochial vicar. He served as a parochial vicar until November 2006, when he was appointed as an Administrator. On March 5, 2008, Fr. Slusz was officially appointed as Pastor of St. Francis Assisi Church.
Email Phone: (203)-729-4543
Rev. Michael Slusz
Pastor
Joyce Luzio
Religious Ed. Director Grades 1-6
Joyce Luzio is a CCD Director, along with her daughter, Karyn. Joyce is a life-long member of St. Francis Parish. She is a 1963 alumnus of St. Francis School and a 1967 graduate of Naugatuck High School. She has been involved in the CCD program for over 20 years, serving as teacher, service hour coordinator, and advisor before becoming director. She is a Eucharistic minister and has been a member of the Parish Council for eight years, currently serving as secretary. Joyce and her husband, Manny, have been married for 38 years and have two daughters and two grandsons.
Email Phone: (203) 729-5304
Karyn Luzio
Religious Ed. Director Grades 1-6
Karyn Luzio is also a life-long member of St. Francis Parish. She is a 1997 graduate of Naugatuck High School and a 2001 graduate of Western CT State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work. Before becoming CCD Director, Karyn was a teacher in our Confirmation program for many years. She has served as a Eucharistic minister and is currently a member of the Parish Council. Karyn is a pre-school teacher for Buttons ‘n Bows Nursery School and Day Care in Naugatuck.
Phone: (203) 723-8191
Jessica Mulligan
Religious Ed. Director Grades 7-10
Jessica Mulligan has taught in the CCD Confirmation Program since 2002. She has been Director of Grades 7-10 since 2007. Prior to taking over as Director, she was Assistant Director for two years. She has been a prishoner of St. Francis of Assisi since 1998. Jessica and her husband, Tim, have been married for 11 years and have four children. Three of their children are students at St. Francis School, where Jessica volunteers her time.
Nancy Stewart
Music Director
Donald Leona
Cantor
Joseph Guarino
Parish Council President
Don Leona is beginning his ninth year as Cantor at St. Francis Church and his eighth year as the Music Teacher at St. Francis School. He is also starting his third year as the Music Teacher at St Hedwig School, and is the Director of the Drama Club for both schools. Don and his wife, Ann, have been married for 23 years and have been members of our parish for the past 18 years. Their children, Molly, Christopher, and Michael are graduates of St. Francis School. In his spare time, Don likes to act in community theatre.
Joe Guarino was appointed to the St. Francis Parish Council in 2006 and was elected President in 2007. He is a 1973 graduate of Central Connecticut State University and taught middle school and religion at area catholic schools until 1986. He joined the U.S. Postal Service in 1986, where he remains currently employed. Joe has been involved in many ministries at our parish including the lector ministry and as an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist. He has been a substitute teacher in St. Francis School, a teacher in our confirmation program, and was CCD Director from 1993 to 2000. He has also served as Coordinator of Religious Eduction for our parish. In his role as Parish Council President, Joe worked on our Stewardship Committee and attended the International Stewardship Council in Miami, Florida in 2007. In his spare time, he teaches piano and is currently Chairperson of the National Association of Letter Carriers' Food Drive. Joe and his wife Susan were married in 1980 and have one son.
Mike Rosa has been as a Parish Trustee for nine years and is also a member of the St. Francis School Board. He has been a member of our parish for over 37 years. He serves as a Minister of the Eucharist and as a Lector. For many years, Mike was co-chair of our annual Parish Fair. Mike and his wife, Nancy, have been married for 35 years and have two sons. Together with a group of friends, Mike and Nancy started our Bingo program, which continues to be a fundraiser for our parish.
Email Phone: 203-723-0809
Greg Nole has been a parishoner of St. Francis of Assisi Church since 1986. He has been a Parish Council member since 1994, serving as President from 1996 to 2002. Greg was the chairman of our annual Parish Fair from 1996 to 2008, and has held a position on the Church Capital Development Committee since 1995. He has also been a St. Francis School Board member since 2007 and is currently serving his first term as President. He has been a Parish Trustee since 2007. Greg works in technical development for Unilever. He and his wife, Stacie, have been married for 25 years and have two daughters in college.
Michael Rosa
Trustee
Greg Nole
Trustee
About Us
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318 Church Street | Naugatuck, CT 06770 | (P) 203-729-4543 | (F) 203-729-6216 |
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Deacon
Ernie Pagliaro
Deacon Ernie Pagliaro was born in Derby, CT on January 19, 1950 and soon moved to Orange, where he lived until going to college. He graduated from the University of Scranton with a B.S. in Sociology in 1971 and received his M.A from St. John's University in 1975. Upon graduating from Scranton he was commissioned an officer in the U.S. Army / U.S. Army Reserve and served for 12 years as an Infantry Officer / Instructor obtaining the rank of Captain.
Deacon Ernie was accepted to the Diaconate formation program in 2005 and after 5 years of discernment and formation instruction was ordained a Permanent Deacon by Archbishop Henry J. Mansell on June 5, 2010. He was assigned to St. Francis of Assisi Parish where he is currently involved in the Marriage Preparation Program, Liturgy Committee, RCIA Program, Stewardship Committee and Pastoral Council.
Ernie has been married to his wife Louellen for 38 years. They have 3 children Ernie III, Christopher and Sara, their spouses Mary, Stacey and David and four beautiful grandchildren: Katie, Natalia, Lucia and David. They raised their family in Seymour for 25 years where they were parishioners of St. Augustine Church. Eight years ago, feeling a calling to live a simpler life, they sold their home and moved to Waterbury and became members of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish.
Ernie and his wife have worked with the Family Life Office of the Diocese giving Engaged Couples Conferences and while at St. Augustine's and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel taught Confirmation classes and were Youth Ministers. He has held various other parish positions to include Renew Coordinator for Small Christian Communities, Parish Council President, and member of the Parish Finance Committee. He has also been an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion and Lector. He is currently a member of The Militia Immaculata and Family Mary Immaculate promoting consecration to the Blessed Mother, bringing people to Jesus and to the will of God through Mary.
As a lay person Deacon Ernie has worked for over 36 years in the retail packaging industry, where he was president of The Carson Collection and The European Gallery. He was also vice president / general manager of the Hudson Paper Company for 10 years, where he currently works as a regional account executive.
