In Loving Memory of Our Beloved Reverend Lino S. Parente Prior of Our Lady of Fatima O.Cist Monastery and pastor emeritus of St. John Neumann Parish in Mount Laurel, NJ Reverend Lino S. Parente, a member of the Cistercian congregation of Casamari, Italy and prior of Our Lady of Fatima Monastery, peacefully passed into God’s eternal kingdom on June 23, 2015 at the age of 76. Father Lino was born on August 20, 1938. He entered the seminary of the Cistercian monastery of San Domenico Abbot, at the age of twelve, on October 12, 1950. After graduating from high school on October 4, 1955, Father Lino entered the Cistercian Novitiate in the Casamari where he was vested as a novice. He professed Simple Vows on October 6, 1956. On October 1958, he was sent to the Monastery of SS. Vincenzo and Anastasio in Rome to attend the Pontifical Gregorian University courses in philosophy. He achieved his M.A. degree in philosophy in1961 and was called back to Casamari for the theological courses from 1961-1965; during which he professed Solemn Vows on July 29, 1962 at the Church of the Abbey, of Casamari. He was ordained to the Priesthood on August 7, 1965 by Archbishop Giuseppe Marafini at the Casamari Abbey. After ordination to the priesthood, he was a teacher and an assistant director at the Institute of Saint Bernard in Casamari. In 1968, he was appointed rector of the seminary of the monastery of San Domenico Abbot, and in 1970 he was assigned to the monastery of Our Lady of Fatima; departing from Naples onthe ship "Raffaello" on February 21, 1971 and arriving at the port of New York on February, 28 1971. After some schooling at Rancocas Valley High School and Holy Cross High School for the English language, he started to help during the weekends at Seaside Heights. During the summer and the winter, he assisted at McGuire Air Force Base for two years. He also assisted at Sacred Heart Parish in Mount Holly, Saint Ann and Deborah Hospital in Browns Mills. In November of 1978, Saint John Neumann was erected as a parish in Mount Laurel and the Cistercian Monks of Our Lady of Fatima became the administrators of the parish of Saint John Neumann. He continued to help the parishes of Sacred Heart, Mount Holly, Saint Andrews, Jobstown, Saint Ann, Browns Mills and Saint John Neumann, Mount Laurel until November 1988. In 1973, he was appointed vice-prior of the Community and in 1989 pastor of the church of St. John Neumann annexed to the monastery. On November 1, 1990, he became the prior of the Community of Our Lady of Fatima. On December 20, 1990, he suffered a heart attack. He was admitted to the Jefferson hospital of Philadelphia on January 7, 1991. He underwent an operation in which there were applied three heart by-passes. Under his 24 years of pastoral service, St. John Neumann grew from 400 families to 3000 registered families. At the age of 75 he resigned as pastor. His fatherly care, administrative talents, accurate and responsible stewardship are some of his gifts with which he served God and the people of God for many years. He arrived in USA when he was only 33 years old. For 44 years he lived his contemplative and active life in service of God, the Cistercian Community and the people of God entrusted to his care by the Diocese of Trenton. On Monday June 22, 2015 Father Lino prayed with the Community and as usual he concluded the night prayers by saying, “May the all-powerful Lord grant us a restful night and a peaceful death” and after his last supper with the Community, went to sleep and in fact had a PEACEFUL DEATH. Father Lino is survived by the Cistercian Community and his three brothers, two of whom are also Cistercian monks and priors of two monasteries in Italy. May his soul rest in peace.