Rev. Fr. Alex Pinto

    Rev. Fr. Alex Dominic Anthony Pinto, 78, a retired priest of the Archdiocese of Newark, died on Thursday September 7, 2023, while visiting family in his native Goa, India.

    Father Alex served, as parochial vicar, chaplain, teacher, and pastoral counselor in several local parishes for more than 40 years including: St. John The Apostle Church, Linden, Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Scotch Plains, Holy Trinity Church, Westfield, and most recently Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Mountainside. He was the current Worthy Chaplain of the Knights of Columbus, Council #1711, Westfield.

   Born in the former Portuguese colony of Goa, India, on Christmas Eve, 1944, he was ordained on December 20, 1969. Father Alex held degrees in psychology from the University of Bombay, and Seton Hall University. He conducted many bereavement groups and Bible study groups. An award-winning poet, his poems and reviews have been published in the US and abroad. He served as a volunteer stress-management teacher at the John H. Stamler Police Academy in Scotch Plains. Since 1992, Fr. Alex had been a professed member of the Secular Order of the Franciscans, taking the name Brother Dominic Anthony.  He followed faithfully the motto of St. Francis of Assisi: “Rebuild My Church.” An avid soccer fan, Fr. Alex remained loyal to the Chelsea Football Club of the Premier League, and closely monitored the matches at Stamford Bridge.

    He is survived by a brother, sister, sister-in-law, nieces, nephews, and cousins in India. His cousin Fr. Rui Comelo officiated at Father Alex’s Funeral Mass and Burial in Bombay (Mumbai), India on September 8, 2023 (the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Mother).

     Fr. Alex’s Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 7:00PM Friday September 15, 2023 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 300 Central Ave. Mountainside, NJ.