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In Memoriam

The Very Reverend Antonio Checo

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Wednesday, April 1, 6:00 pm

R.I.P - The Very Reverend Antonio Checo
Rector of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Jackson Heights
Dean of the Hellgate Deanery

May 6, 1952 - April 1, 2020


Fr. Checo, rector of St. Mark’s and dean of the Hellgate Deanery in the Diocese of Long Island died today at Mount Sinai Hospital, Queens, of complications due to the coronavirus COVID-19.

Besides serving as rector of St. Mark’s, he served as a member and chair of the Hispanic commission of the Diocese of Long Island, as a member of the Board of the Mercer School of Theology, and was very active in Cursillo. 

Antonio was a dedicated, hard working parish priest, enthusiastically in love with the people of his parish and the communities of Jackson Heights and Astoria and the surrounding neighborhoods. 


​Everyone who knew Fr. Checo always knew what he was thinking and feeling about almost every topic. His transparent love of Jesus and the people he was called to serve was infectious to us all. When Antonio told you he was praying for you, you knew well you were being prayed for continually. 

He made you want to be a better servant to God’s people, a better priest, deacon or bishop. He made me want to be a better person - certainly a very enthusiastic participant in every endeavor. 

I will miss my friend and prayer partner. I will miss this very special priest. May he rest in the arms of the loving God he served so faithfully.

Rest Eternal Grant to him O Lord. Let light perpetual shine upon him! 
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​The Right Reverend Lawrence C. Provenzano
Bishop of Long Island
​

O God of grace and glory, we remember before you this day our brother Antonio. We thank you for giving him to us, his family and friends, to know and to love as a companion on our earthly pilgrimage. In your boundless compassion, console us who mourn. Give us faith to see in death the gate of eternal life, so that in quiet confidence we may continue our course on earth, until, by your call, we are reunited with those who have gone before; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

UPDATE  Tuesday, March 31. 4:30 pm

Fr. Antonio Checo remains in critical but stable condition. He is assisted in his breathing by a ventilator and receives dialysis treatment to aid kidney function.

Please keep Father Checo, his husband Starlin, and the people of St. Mark’s, Jackson Heights in your prayers. 

Friday, March 27

​Dear Sisters and Brothers,
 
Father Antonio Checo has been moved into an Intensive Care Unit and is currently in critical condition after being admitted to the hospital on Tuesday morning due to symptoms related to COVID-19.

Please pray for Antonio's relief and healing, his husband, Starlin, his family and the people of St. Mark's, Jackson Heights, and for those who are treating him.

I will provide more information as soon as I can.

The Right Reverend Lawrence C. Provenzano
Bishop of Long Island
O God, The strength of the weak and
​the comfort of sufferers: 

Mercifully accept our prayers, and grant to your servant Antonio the help of your power, that his sickness may be turned into health, and our sorrow into joy;
​
through Jesus Christ our Lord
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Wednesday, April 1, 6:00 pm

​Q.E.P.D. – El Muy Reverendo Antonio Checo
Rector de la Iglesia Episcopal de San Marcos
Decano del Decanato de Hellgate

​6 de mayo de 1952 - 1 de abril de 2020

El Padre Checo, rector de San Marcos y Decano del Decanato de Hellgate en la Diócesis de Long Island, murió hoy en el Hospital Mount Sinai, Queens, por complicaciones debidas al coronavirus COVID-19.

Además de servir como rector de San Marcos, fue miembro y presidente de la Comisión Hispana de la Diócesis de Long Island, como miembro de la Junta de la Escuela de Teología Mercer, y fue muy activo en Cursillo.

Antonio era un párroco dedicado y trabajador, entusiasta y amante de la gente de su parroquia y de las comunidades de Jackson Heights y Astoria y los barrios de alrededor. 
​

Todos los que conocían al Padre Checo siempre sabían lo que pensaba y sentía sobre casi todos los temas. Su amor transparente por Jesús y la gente a la que estaba llamado a servir era contagioso para todos nosotros. Cuando Antonio decía que estaba rezando por ti, sabías bien que se rezaba por ti continuamente. 

Te hacía querer ser un mejor servidor del pueblo de Dios, un mejor sacerdote, diácono u obispo. Me hizo querer ser una mejor persona, ciertamente un participante muy entusiasta en cada esfuerzo.

Echaré de menos a mi amigo y compañero de oración. Echaré de menos a este padre especial. Que descanse en los brazos del Dios amoroso al que sirvió tan fielmente.

Oh Dios, Concédele su Descanso Eterno. ¡Que la luz perpetua brille sobre él! 
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Reverendísimo Lawrence C. Provenzano
Obispo de Long Island


Oh, Dios de gracia y gloria, recordamos ante ti en este día a nuestro hermano Antonio. Te damos las gracias por habérnoslo dado a nosotros, su familia y amigos, para conocerlo y amarlo como compañero en nuestro peregrinaje terrenal. En tu ilimitada compasión, consuélanos a los que estamos de luto. Danos fe para ver en la muerte la puerta de la vida eterna, para que con tranquila confianza podamos continuar nuestro camino en la tierra, hasta que, por tu llamada, nos reunamos con los que han ido antes; por Jesucristo nuestro Señor. Amén.

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>> Fallece por coronavirus el padre Checo, de una iglesia en Jackson Heights
By Spectrum Noticias NY1 Queens

>> New York Times: Episcopal Priest Who Stressed Service, Dies at 67
(This online article is available to NY Times subscribers.)

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Biography
The Very Reverend Antonio Checo

Born and raised in Santiago, the Dominican Republic, Fr. Antonio Checo received an undergraduate degree in Social Work at a Roman Catholic University in the Dominican Republic. He was a public high school teacher of cultural history in his town and the director of a UNICEF Program in La Vega, Dominican Republic, responsible for 986 children under the age of 6 in that program.

Father Checo relocated to the United States in 1982 for graduate school, earning a Masters Degree in Social Work from Fordham University in New York City. Father Checo worked for the New York Department of Social Services for 18 years and held positions as a caseworker, social worker, supervisor and Director of Foster Care and Preventative Services.

After the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York in 2001, Father Checo worked for the Red Cross as one of the assistants in its 9/11 Recovery Program. When the program ended in 2005, he moved to Mount Sinai Hospital in Queens as a Mental Health Clinician, and retired from that position in 2018.
 
Father Checo studied at the General Theological Seminary earning a Master of Divinity Degree in 2006 and was received and ordained deacon and then priest in the Episcopal Church. As priest he served for the rest of his life in the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island.  His various ministries included serving as a member and chair of the diocesan Hispanic Commission and member of the Board of the Mercer School of Theology. He also was active in Cursillo.  In community service he was active in Queens Power and the Spanish Commission on AIDS.

At the time of his death he was currently serving as the 4th Rector of Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church in Jackson Heights, New York.

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