The Rt. Rev. Lawrence Provenzano is pleased to announce his appointment of the Rev. Matthew Sanfilippo as full-time Episcopal Chaplain to St. John's Episcopal Hospital, effective August 1, 2024. Fr. Sanfilippo previously served as Curate at the Church of the Ascension in Rockville Centre and brings a wealth of experience in public service and pastoral care to this new role.
"I'm honored to be the Episcopal Chaplain at EHS/St. John's Episcopal Hospital," Fr Sanfilippo said. "With almighty God's help, I will do my best to provide the most dignified and loving pastoral and spiritual care to all of God's people, to celebrate Mass and administer the Sacraments daily, and to reaffirm this institution's Episcopal identity."
About Fr. Matthew Sanfilippo
From a young age, Fr. Matthew Sanfilippo was drawn to the noble path of public service. His journey began soon after high school, when he embarked on a career as an EMT, later advancing to the role of a Paramedic with the FDNY. After a decade of dedicated service in this field, Fr. Matthew transitioned to law enforcement, joining the ranks of the NYPD as a Police Officer. His commitment to service was unwavering, as evidenced by his academic pursuits, culminating in a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Public Administration degree from John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
When he was 33 years old, while working as a Police Officer, he began to discern his calling to ordained ministry. After 20 years of combined service as a first responder, he retired from the NYPD and entered the Seminary of the Southwest. He earned four Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) units throughout his seminary formation before graduation.
Fr. Matthew was ordained a deacon in October 2021 and a priest in April 2022. After graduation, Fr. Matthew served as Curate at the Church of the Ascension in Rockville Centre for two years, where he made a significant impact through his dedication and service. After completing his curacy, Fr. Matthew was called by Bishop Provenzano to serve as the Episcopal Chaplain at the Episcopal Health Services—St. John’s Episcopal Hospital in Far Rockaway, where he currently serves.