Reverend Monsignor James Paul Carini

July 26, 1939 – July 30, 2025

Rev. Msgr. James Paul Carini, a devoted retired priest of the Diocese of Norwich, passed away peacefully at his home in Chester, Connecticut, on July 30, 2025, at the age of 86.

Born in Middletown, Connecticut, he was the son of John F. Carini and Katherine (Scallia) Carini of Chester. He grew up locally, attending Chester Grammar School and Valley Regional High School, graduating in 1957.

Monsignor Carini earned a B.A. from St. Francis University, an M.A. in Counselor Education from the University of Rhode Island, and an M.Div. from Christ the King Seminary at St. Bonaventure University. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 27, 1965, by Bishop Vincent J. Hines for the Diocese of Norwich.

His early assignments included service at the Cathedral of St. Patrick in Norwich, St. Peter Church in Higganum, and five years at St. Patrick Church in Mystic, where he served as chaplain to deaf Catholic students and directed religious education at the Mystic Oral School. He went on to establish the first diocesan Ministry to the Deaf, celebrating Masses in sign language and spearheading ongoing outreach through advanced studies at NYU’s Deafness and Research Center.

In the 1970s, he was chaplain at St. Bernard High School in Uncasville and served on staff at the Emmaus Spiritual Life Center, having received a Certificate in Spiritual Direction from the Diocese of Bridgeport. He was deeply involved in missions to Haiti, traveling in 1982 with Bishop Daniel P. Reilly and later residing in Haiti in 1985 to explore a permanent diocesan presence there. Fluent in Haitian Creole, he ministered to the growing Haitian community in Norwich with services in their language.

In 1986, Fr. Carini became pastor of St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Preston. Following his 25th anniversary of ordination, he studied at Notre Dame’s Center for Christian Formation in Ministry in 1991. In 2025 he was recognized by the diocese for 60 years of priestly ministry, a testament to decades of steadfast service.

Funeral Arrangements

• Reception of the Body: Friday, August 8, 2025, 9:00–10:45 a.m.
  Blessed Sacrament Parish – Saint Matthew Church, 111 Tolland Green, Tolland, CT
• Funeral Mass: Friday, August 8, 2025, at 11:00 a.m.
  Celebrated by Most Reverend Richard F. Reidy, Bishop of Norwich. 
• Burial: Immediately following Mass at Saint Joseph Cemetery, 48 Middlesex Avenue, Chester, CT

Arrangements by Robinson, Wright & Weymer Funeral Home, Centerbrook, CT.

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A Tribute from Norwich Outreach to Haiti

By Fr. Frank Rouleau, Chaplain and Director of Parish Twinning

I just learned of the death of Msgr. James Carini, a Priest of the Norwich Diocese for sixty years. He was a wonderful Man of God, mentor and friend. He was also my Pastor at St. Catherine Parish in Preston when I discerned a call to the priesthood.

Fr. Carini was the first Priest of the Norwich Diocese to go to Haiti. Bishop Daniel Reilly asked him forty years ago to go there and explore possibilities for the Diocese to help the people of Haiti. When he came home, he developed a small ministry to the local Haitian community in addition to his ministry to the deaf and his parish responsibilities.

The Sunday before I left for seminary, Fr. Carini called me before the church assembly and invited them to join him in giving me a blessing. He told me to study well and come back and take his place.

After my priestly ordination, Bishop Hart asked me to develop a ministry for the Haitian people. I went to Haiti in September 2000 to study the Haitian language and culture. That December, Bishop Hart, Fr. Carini, and others journeyed to Port-au-Prince to formalize a covenant with the Archdiocese of Port-au-Prince. I reminded Fr. Jim of what he had said to me years before.

Fr. Carini later became pastor of St. Matthew Parish in Tolland. The parish twinned with St. Pierre Parish in Gantier and supported their parochial school. He faithfully led annual delegations for over a dozen years. In Gantier, people would ask, “Is Fr. Jim coming this year?”

Even in retirement, he attended Outreach to Haiti fundraisers and remained closely connected with the mission.

Eternal rest grant to Monsignor Carini, O Lord. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Ke Bondye beni ou, Monsenyè!