September 30, 2015

By Deacon Kevin Mastellon
Staff writer

Watertown  - The mission of the Watertown based Sacred Heart Foundation is to  provide financial assistance for the education of those studying to be priests and brothers of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart anywhere in the world.

Each year the Foundation board awards scholarships to MSC students in provinces across the globe, places like Papua New Guinea, Colombia, Korea, Peru.

MSC students in the United States benefit from scholarships as well. This year the membership of the Foundation had a chance to hear from one of its home grown beneficiaries.

Missionary of the Sacred Heart Father Frank T. Natale was the guest of honor at the Foundation's 42nd Annual Benefit dinner held at the Hilton Garden Inn Sept. 16.

Father Natale, a native Ohioan, entered formation with the MSC's in 2002, where he continued his studies at Our Lady of the Lakes University in San Antonio Texas. He was ordained June 29, 2013 on the feast of St. Peter and Paul. 

At present Father Natale is serving as an associate pastor in two parishes in Palm Springs, California, Our Lady of Solitude and Our Lady of Guadalupe.

While a student, Father Natale received eight years of support from the Sacred Heart Foundation scholarship fund. 

Board Vice-President Stephen W. Gebo, the Master of Ceremonies for the evening said in his introduction, "it is gratifying to see a priest we supported assisting the MSC in the United States.

Nancy McCabe, the Foundation President, announced the Board granted $77,500 in scholarship awards for 2015. The Scholarship Committee reviewed applications from twelve different MSC Provinces located in ten countries. Eighty-four MSC deacons and seminary students will receive financial assistance.

"Through the generosity of our supporters since 1968 this is the highest annual award the Sacred Heart Foundation has given in scholarships," Mrs. McCabe said.

Father Natale thanked the Foundation for its support of his studies.  He described his years of discernment and preparation and acknowledged there were times of doubt about his being called to God's service as a priest.
"But something told me to keep at it," he said, "and now I am grateful God directed me to this service and ministry."

Father Natale was born and brought up in Canton, Ohio.  He began thinking of service to the Church while in high school but initially attended a local technical school. 

He began his training to become a priest at Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas and graduated in 2006 with a degree in philosophy.  He spent a year in spiritual formation with the MSC community in Australia and made his first profession of vows in December 2007.

Father Natale professed his life-long vows as a member of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in 2011 at his hometown parish in Canton.  In preparation for his ordination to the priesthood, Father Natale earned a Masters of Divinity degree from Catholic Theological Union in 2012.  

He was ordained a deacon in August 2012. and was ordained to the priesthood on June 29, 2013, in St. Joseph Church by Bishop George V. Murray, SJ, Bishop of the Youngstown Diocese.