NORRISTOWN — The Rev. Augustus C. Puleo, a native of Norristown and beloved former pastor of St. Patrick Church in Norristown, passed away on Wednesday, leaving a significant impact on his community, students, parish, and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
Father Gus, as he was affectionately called, became a priest in 2005 at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. Before becoming a priest, Father Gus was a teacher and worked as a Spanish professor at Columbia University in New York City.
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In 2020, the Rev. Gus Puleo, then pastor of St. Patrick Church in Norristown, conducted a Mass at the Padre Pio Shrine to honor Our Lady of Guadalupe. In this photo, he is holding the glove worn by Padre Pio. (Photo courtesy of St. Patrick Church)
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As "sons of Sciacca," Monsignor John Marine, left, and the Rev. Gus Puleo, right, were honored with crowning the baby Jesus in the arms of La Madonna. (Submitted Photo)
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Rev. Gus Puleo takes part in the procession of the Guadalupe torch in a car. (Submitted Photo)
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Rev. Gus Puleo, leader of St. Patrick Church in Norristown, displays the Guadalupe torch in front of the church on DeKalb Street. (Submitted Photo)
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Submitted Photo
The Rev. Gus Puleo, right, is shown here distributing blessed bread to parishioners after the Thanksgiving Day Mass and serving as a deacon to the new Archbishop.
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Photo courtesy of the family
To commemorate the canonization of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Hank Cisco teamed up with the Rev. Gus Puleo, pastor of St. Patrick’s Church in Norristown, the location of the Missionaries of Charity convent.
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The Rev. Gus Puleo stands outside St. Patrick Church in Norristown on Thursday, July 26, 2012. Times Herald File Photo.
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MediaNews Group Photo — Kaitlyn Rodgers
The Rev. Gus Puleo, left, pastor of St. Patrick, and Most Rev. Nelson Perez, archbishop of Philadelphia.
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Rev. Gus Puleo, Sister Rosemary DePaul IHM and devoted parishioners celebrate the Guadalupe Torch in front of St. Patrick Church. (Submitted Photo)
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Gene Walsh — Digital First Media
The Rev. Gus Puleo addresses parishioners during a special Mass at St. Patrick Church, Norristown, for the victims of the earthquakes in Mexico and the hurricanes in the Caribbean on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017.
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As a regular columnist for The Times Herald and its MediaNews Group sister papers, Father Gus was prolific in both his written and spoken communication. His columns — the last one published today — were educational and enlightening, informing his readers about saints, feasts days, and the power of prayer.
His “tagline,” brief biography that ran at the end of his columns, was almost as lengthy as some of his articles. It read:
“The Rev. Gus Puleo serves as director of the English as a Second Language (ESL) program and the Spanish Department at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia, where he also teaches English and Spanish. He is a graduate of Norristown High School and attended Georgetown University, where he received B.A. and B.S. in Spanish and linguistics. He has master’s degrees in Spanish, linguistics and divinity from Middlebury College, Georgetown University and St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. He holds a Ph.D. in Spanish from the University of Pennsylvania. He is the former pastor of St. Patrick Church in Norristown.”
When giving his sermons, Father Gus often used his upbringing in Norristown and his stated dislike of Hallmark movies to connect with the people in the pews. He could be a compelling speaker, delivering his message with a loud voice, and he could also be a comedian, using self-deprecating humor to emphasize a point from the Gospel. He had a strong commitment to the Blessed Mother and a real connection to St. Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa).
Although he made a significant impact as an educator at high school, college, or seminary levels, Father Gus was most known for his work at his cherished St. Patrick parish. He officiated numerous weddings, baptisms, and quinceañeras. He established healthcare screenings for uninsured community members, set up a health program to train women parishioners in basic nursing techniques, and created educational programs for SAT preparation, ESL, and adult education.
Father Gus tirelessly served his parishioners, showing unwavering dedication to both English-speaking and Spanish-speaking members. Arguably, his greatest contribution to his parishioners was preserving their parish.
When expensive structural problems were a threat to shutting down St. Patrick Church, Father Gus, nearly on his own, managed to collect the necessary $1.67 million for the repairs. A few months after the church reopened in November 2022, Father Gus announced his retirement as a pastor and became a full-time educator at the seminary.
He continued to conduct Mass at St. Pat’s every weekend, taking turns between English and Spanish services. After each Mass, parishioners queued to speak with their beloved pastor.
Arrangements for the Rev. Gus Puleo's funeral Mass are being handled by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, with details pending.
