The Chancellor’s Office was recently informed that Reverend Matteo (Matt) Rizzo, 78, a retired priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn, passed away on Thursday, March 20, 2025, after being removed from life support following a heart attack.

Father Rizzo was ordained to the priesthood on May 26, 1973, serving for nearly 52 years before his death. In 2013, he was granted retirement status from the Diocese of Brooklyn, after which he relocated to Tarpon Springs.  During his time in the Diocese of St. Petersburg, he provided assistance to the following parishes: St. Luke the Evangelist, Palm Harbor; St. Ignatius of Antioch, Tarpon Springs; St. Vincent de Paul, Holiday; St. Peter the Apostle, Trinity; and Light of Christ, Clearwater.

Funeral services for Father Rizzo will be held on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at Light of Christ Catholic Church, 2176 Marilyn Street, Clearwater and will be as follows:

Visitation: 1:00 p.m.
Funeral Mass: 2:00 p.m.
Burial will take place at a later date at Mount St. Mary Cemetery, Flushing, New York.

Please keep Father Rizzo and his family in your thoughts and prayers.

++++
May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed,
by the mercy of God, rest in peace!