You’re at ease the first moment you walk into Fr. Al Salanitro’s office at St. Bernadette Parish in Bellevue. His solid handshake and beaming smile let you know you’re in the presence of a friend.
Fr. Al, a 1973 graduate of St. Joan of Arc School, was ordained on June 3, 1989. He is currently the pastor of St. Bernadette Catholic Church. Even though, as the parish’s only priest, Fr. Al’s schedule is always full, he still finds time for his second love - theater.

Fr. Al realized his love for acting while at SJA. “I remember when Miss Abboud gave an assignment to speak about a favorite show. Mine was Fiddler on the Roof, and I sang ‘If I were a Rich Man’, to the entire speech class!”

“Later there was a school-wide talent show hosted at the College of St. Mary,” he reminisced, “and I jumped at the chance to participate. That’s when I realized I had truly been bitten by the ‘acting bug’.”
After graduating from SJA, Fr. Al attended Bishop Ryan High School, taking on roles in plays all four years. He continued to hone his skills at the seminary.

“I’m currently directing and producing a play at Gross Catholic High School, The Prince and the Pauper, involving 100 students and 28 adults.”

You can say “hi” to Fr. Al Salanitro at the 2008 Crusade for Excellence Dinner, on Saturday, April 5, at SJA MCM Center.

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