Br. Lawrence (Raymond) Sparacino, O.S.A. (1938 - 2022)

Rev. Lawrence (Raymond) Sparacino, O.S.A., entered eternal life on October 22, 2022. He was 84 years old.

Raymond Francis Sparacino was born on April 25, 1938, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Lawrence and Giulia Sparacino. He was baptized on May 15, 1938, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Milwaukee. He received the Sacrament of Confirmation on April 26, 1950, at St. Rita Catholic Church, Milwaukee.

Raymond received his elementary education at St. Rita School, Milwaukee. He studied for one year at St. Francis High School, Milwaukee. He then transferred to St. Francis Brothers School, Milwaukee, where he earned his high school diploma in 1956. St. Francis Brothers School was the location of a Capuchin formation program.

Raymond entered the Augustinian formation program in September 1961, taking the religious name Lawrence. He was received into the Augustinian Novitiate on September 3, 1964. He professed Simple (temporary) Vows in the Order of St. Augustine on September 4, 1965. He requested a dispensation from Simple Vows in 1967, and a rescript from the Prior General of the Order dated May 30, 1967, granted this request.

In 1969, Brother Sparacino sought to return to the Augustinian Order. A decree of the Commissary General, dated February 22, 1969, readmitted him to the Order without the need of repeating the Novitiate. After a period of probation, he again professed Simple Vows on March 8, 1970. He professed Solemn (permanent) Vows on March 19, 1973.

Brother Sparacino was assigned in 1970 to St. Rita Monastery, Chicago, and named Director of Monican Press, an Augustinian ministry which sold greeting cards and religious articles. The
Augustinian Province closed Monican Press in 1980. Brother Sparacino continued to reside at St. Rita. In 1985, he was named Treasurer of the Monastery in 1985.

He was assigned to St. Monica Monastery, Chicago, in 1993, and named Treasurer there. While continuing to reside at St. Monica, in 1995 he was appointed Manager of Tolentine Center, Olympia Fields, Illinois. In 1997, he was assigned to St. Nicholas of Tolentine Monastery, Olympia Fields.

In 1998, Brother Sparacino was assigned to Blessed Stephen Bellesini Community, Racine, Wisconsin, with ministry at nearby Holy Rosary Parish, Kenosha, Wisconsin. In 1999, he was assigned to St. Peter Parish, Douglas, Michigan, where he was Parish Secretary.

Brother Sparacino was again assigned to St. Nicholas of Tolentine Monastery, Olympia Fields, in January 2007. He served on the Health Care Team for elderly and infirm Augustinian friars in the Senior Care Program there. In August 2010, when the Senior Care Program relocated to Bl. Stephen Bellesini Friary at Franciscan Village, Lemont, Illinois, Brother Sparacino relocated there.

In November 2012, after Bl. Stephen Bellesini Friary and the Senior Care Program moved to Crown Point, Indiana, he was assigned to St. Turibius Friary, Chicago, with residence at nearby St. Gabriel Parish. He continued to care for a small number of friars who did not move to the new location but remained at the Lemont facility. In July 2014, he was assigned to St. Rita Monastery, Chicago, where he continued to serve on the Health Care Team.

While visiting the retired friars in Crown Point, Indiana, in 2016, Brother Sparacino suffered a stroke.  He then remained at St. Anthony Home in Crown Point as his new residence. 

On October 22, 2022, Brother Sparacino entered eternal life.

Brother Sparacino is buried in the Augustinian plot at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Alsip, Illinois.