A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, Aug. 1 at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph Church in Lincoln Park, N.J., for Deacon Stephen Marabeti, who died on July 24. He was 86.
In 1974, Bishop Lawrence Casey, the fifth bishop of Paterson, ordained Deacon Marabeti as a member of the first class of men to of the Permanent Diaconate for the diocese, N.J. He served St. Joseph Parish in Lincoln Park from the date of his ordination until his death.
On July 6, 2024, Deacon Marabeti celebrated the 50th anniversary of his ordination at a Mass for which Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney was the principal celebrant.
“Deacon Steve faithfully served God and the people of St. Joseph Parish with dedication, kindness, and a generous heart.,” St. Joseph’s posted on social media. “His unwavering faith, compassion, and commitment to our parish community touched countless lives His passing is a tremendous loss for our parish family, and he will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him,” the parish posted.
Deacon Marabeti belonged to the steering committee that helped start the diocesan diaconate program with Msgr. Kenneth Lasch, now retired, directed by Bishop Lawrence Casey. Through his work with the U.S. Catholic Conference of Catholic Bishops on the Permanent Diaconate, he traveled around the country to encourage other dioceses to start diaconate programs.
Deacon Marabeti pursued a career in education. He taught history at DePaul Catholic High School in Wayne, N.J. from 1964 to 1969. Afterward, he taught history and other subjects at Parsippany Hills High School for 32 years before retiring.
A wake for Deacon Marabeti will be held on Friday, July 31, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Keri-Lozito Funeral Home in Lincoln Park.
Deacons are invited to vest and process in alb and diocesan stole at the Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday, Aug. 1 at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph Church. Repast will be held after at the parish.
Please keep Deacon Marabeti and his family in your prayers.
