A Tribute to Father Lioi
This year’s Tyburn Academy Sports Banquet will be held at the Sennett Fire Dept. 3526 Franklin St Rd on Thursday Oct 22nd beginning at 6 pm, with dinner prepared by Paulo Saltarello and the Italian Cuccina Kitchen Crew. There will also be a silent auction of Syracuse University Sports Memorabilia. As usual, our MC is Doug Logan, legendary sportscaster and “Voice of the Orange.” Our main speaker is former Syracuse and NBA basketball player, Eric Devendorf, who is now owner and executive director of the ED23 Hoops Foundation, whose mission is to provide hoop and life lessons to the youth in the greater Syracuse area. Eric will be accompanied by Syracuse University’s Special Assistant Coach to the Football program, William Hicks, who will also speak, answer questions, and be available for pictures and autographs. Tickets are $50 and can be obtained from Tyburn Academy, Muldoon Cleaners, and Joe LoPiccolo. This event is sponsored by Auburn Council #207, Knights of Columbus.
This year’s honoree of the banquet is Father Frank Lioi. Fr. Lioi has been a priest of the Diocese of Rochester for the past fifty-eight years. He was ordained on June 3, 1967 at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Rochester by the late Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen proclaimed “Venerable” by Pope Benedict XVI, which is the step leading to beatification and eventually canonization. Father Lioi was named pastor of Saint Mary’s Church, Auburn in 2004, of Saint Mary & Martha Parish in 2014, and of Our Lady of the Snow Parish in 2020. He currently is Dean of the East Deanery (Cayuga & Tompkins Counties) of the Diocese, serves on the Presbyteral Council, and is a member of the College of Consultors of the Diocese.
Frank Eugene Lioi was born in Rochester, New York, one of five children of Anthony & Mary Jane Lioi. He grew up at Saint Francis of Assisi Church in Rochester, under the guidance of long-time pastor Monsignor Joseph A. Cirrincione (known for the nightly radio broadcast of the Family Rosary for Peace). He attended Saint Andrew minor Seminary (where he studied English grammar & literature by Fr. Albert Shamon) and Saint Bernard major Seminary in Rochester. Upon ordination, he was assigned as associate pastor at the Church of St. John the Evangelist in Greece, NY (1967-1972) and the Church of the Annunciation in Rochester (1972-1974) and served as Catholic chaplain at the Eastman School of Music of the University of Rochester (1972-1976).
After obtaining a Master of Arts Degree in Liturgical Studies from The Catholic University of America, he was assigned to the faculty of St. Bernard’s Seminary (1974-1981) and eventually Rector (1977-1981). St. Bernard Seminary awarded him a Doctor of Divinity Degree, honoris causa. Subsequently, he was appointed Assistant to the Rector for Planning & Development (1981-1984) at The American College of Louvain, a seminary in Belgium sponsored by the Bishops of the United States and then Vice-Rector & Director of Development (1984-1989). Upon returning to the United States, he was assigned pastor of Saint Anne Church in Rochester (1989-2002), and then Holy Cross Church in Dryden & St. Anthony Church in Groton (2002-2004).
In 2004, Father Lioi came to Auburn, New York, with a wealth of administrative, liturgical, and pastoral experience at the service of the three parishes to which he has been called to serve. During his twenty-one years in Auburn, Father Lioi has integrated himself into the life of the community by attending and supporting many civic and community functions. He also has been instrumental in bringing numerous cultural and musical events to Auburn at Saint Mary’s Church. Because of the pontificate of Pope Francis and now the election of Pope Leo XIV, and the yearning of many of our younger generation for stability and community, he envisions a resurgence of faith in the Catholic Community of Auburn and Cayuga County as well as in the world at large.
Please come and enjoy a wonderful home cooked Italian meal, excellent speakers, and most importantly support Tyburn Academy and one of the pillars of our Auburn Community. Fr. Lioi follows in the footsteps of many Sports Banquet honorees which include Jim Boeheim, Joe LoPiccolo, and the late Gary Finch. Tyburn Academy is privileged to have Fr. Lioi as a strong supporter of Catholic Education and recipient of this prestigious award.