In new album, composer with local roots celebrates a marriage saved by faith

BY GINA CHRISTIAN  National Reporter, OSV News and MONITOR STAFF REPORTS

On Independence Day in 2021, Michigan-based composer Tony Manfredonia felt anything but free.

The 30-year-old, who has scored everything from Mass settings to videogame soundtracks, was “at the bottom of the barrel” in his young marriage, he told OSV News.

“I was at the lowest point in my life,” said Manfredonia, who has his roots in the Philadelphia area. “I asked, ‘Do I even want to live anymore?’ I got to that point where I considered leaving. ... and I said, ‘I just can’t do this anymore.’” share a powerful faith experience is nothing new to Manfredonia, who is the one of three children of Jim and Cheryl Manfredonia of Domestic Church Media, Ewing, a Catholic media apostolate with radio stations covering portions of the Diocese. Both parents have musical backgrounds and regularly share their faith-inspired talent in their programming and other concerts. (See sidebar)

Painful Journey

The crisis of what Manfredonia described as “anger, hatred and frustration” in his marriage had been sparked by discussions of having children amid several medical conditions his wife was battling. The marriage entered a dark season in the spring of 2021. Discord between the couple emerged “on numerous fronts emotionally (and) financially,” and the prospect of parenthood was frightening.

“When we started seeing improvement (in Maria’s condition), we said, ‘Maybe let’s start talking about kids,’” he said. “Through those conversations, questions suddenly arose: ‘Did we make the right choices with this marriage?’”

Manfredonia added he even wondered if the marriage was stifling his artistic gifts.

“I feel so ashamed to think that I asked myself, ‘Is she holding me back from a better career, fame and fortune?’” he said. “At the time, I thought those were ... things that would make me happy.”

DCM, EWTN INTERVIEW TONY MANFREDONIA

Jim Manfredonia, co-founder of Domestic Church Media in Ewing, and his wife Cheryl recently interviewed their son Anthony – who goes by Tony Manfredonia professionally – on their radio program “Friday LIVE” on Feb. 28, giving him a platform to talk candidly about his new album and the personal struggles that led to its creation.

“This is all so exciting,” said Cheryl Manfredonia of her son. “Jim and I are so proud of his musical accomplishments, but we are also so thankfully blessed.”

To view the program, visit www. youtube.com/watch?v=p3cls-LmjsU. The interview begins at 15:05.

Following his DCM appearance and the article in Our Sunday Visitor, Tony was also interviewed March 14 for EWTN’s television program “Life on the Rock.” Episodes are available on demand at ewtn. com/tv/shows/life-on-the-rock.

More than two years later, Manfredonia and his wife, Maria, have renewed their commitment to each other – which he chronicles in his new album “Anchored,” describing it as “a true story of spiritual warfare, and how complete surrender to God saved my marriage.”

The “cinematic, symphonic rock” forms a tale of “Satan’s attempt to destroy marriages and families” and “the miraculous gift of faith and ... God’s faithfulness,” Manfredonia wrote on his website.

Utilizing music and the media to

Yet amid the turmoil, Manfredonia and his wife were able to recall the “mutual suffering” that had brought them together, and their Catholic faith. Manfredonia was diagnosed in 2012 with anorexia, prior to his music composition studies at Temple University. He chronicled his recovery through a blog he created, and Maria, who also had struggled with the disorder, sent a message of support that led to Manfredonia’s traveling to her hometown in Michigan for a visit. The two married after Manfredonia graduated in 2016, and now

Domestic Church Media, a Catholic media lay apostolate, provides a variety of both local and EWTN programming, streaming live on domesticchurchmedia. org and on their free app.

Both Jim and Cheryl expressed happiness at Tony’s journey, even reminding him during the interview that when he was a child, the family visited the tomb of Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen in New York. Tony has inserted excerpts of the archbishop’s talks overlaying a track on his new album.

“Anthony and Maria are deeply involved in their faith,” Cheryl added, “giving witness to the Sacrament of Marriage.”

By EmmaLee Italia, Contributing Editor

THE DIOCESE OF TRENTON is committed to the initiatives outlined in the U.S. Bishops’ Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People and to its own policies and guidelines in regard to the reporting and investigation of sexual abuse allegations involving minors.

If you have been sexually abused as a minor by a member of the clergy or anyone representing the Catholic Church, or if you know of someone who was, you can report that abuse through the diocesan ABUSE HOTLINE: 1-888-296-2965 or via e-mail at abuseline@dioceseoftrenton.org.

The Diocese of Trenton reports any allegations of sexual abuse to the appropriate law enforcement agencies. Anyone with an allegation is also encouraged to provide that information to local law enforcement authorities.

FATHER MICHAEL BRIZIO, A CONSOLATA PRIEST WHO MINISTERED IN FREEHOLD AND HIGHTSTOWN PARISHES, DIES

From Staff Reports

Consolata Father Michael Brizio, who served as an adjunct priest in St. Robert Bellarmine

Co-Cathedral and St. Rose of Lima Parish, both Freehold, and St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Hightstown, died March 27 in De La Salle Hall, Lincroft. He was 76.

Funeral services were scheduled for April 1 with a Mass of Christian Burial being celebrated at 10:30 a.m. in St. Rose of Lima Chapel, 51 Lincoln Place. Burial was to be in

St. Rose of Lima Cemetery.

“Father Mike was such a kind and gentle priest,” Melissa Mistretta posted on the Co-Cathedral’s Facebook page. “He always had a good sense of humor, no matter what he might have been dealing with. The bravery he displayed during his illness was nothing short of heroic. I enjoyed his reflections on Scripture and his ‘Seeds of Hope’ emails were so enlightening. I will miss his comforting presence, yet I rejoice knowing he is at peace.”

Father Brizio was born in Fossano, Piedmont, Italy in 1947. He joined the Consolata Missionaries as a young boy and professed his first religious vows Oct. 2, 1967. He attended The Catholic University of America, Washington, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in theology. He was ordained a priest May 12, 1973.

Following his ordination, Father Brizio pursued missionary life. He was sent to Kenya and, after having learned Kimeru, one of the local languages, he taught at the Egoji Teacher Training College for four years.

When Father Brizio was asked to serve in Ethiopia, he accepted and attended correspondence courses given by the Century University in Beverly Hills, Calif. After

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