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Bishop Gerardo J. Colacicco

The Most Reverend Gerardo J. Colacicco

Photo: Chris Sheridan

Bishop Gerardo J. Colacicco was born on September 19, 1955 in St. Francis Hospital, Poughkeepsie, NY to Angelo and Irma Colacicco (both deceased). His siblings are Linda Colacicco, Michael Colacicco and JoAnn Morgan; he also has two nieces and two nephews.

After receiving a degree in history from Marist College, the bishop-elect entered Saint Joseph’s Seminary, and was ordained a priest in 1982 by Terence Cardinal Cooke. His pastoral assignments include Sacred Heart Parish in Newburgh as a deacon, and as parochial vicar at Good Shepherd Parish in Rhinebeck, Our Lady of Fatima in Scarsdale, and at Saint Denis-Saint Columba in Hopewell Junction before becoming priest-secretary to John Cardinal O’Connor.

Bishop Colacicco has been pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Newburgh, Saint Columba in Hopewell Junction, and at Saint Joseph – Immaculate Conception, Millbrook. He has also served on the Metropolitan Tribunal of the archdiocese, and for four years, as Director of Pastoral Formation at Saint Joseph’s Seminary. He was named a Prelate of Honor of His Holiness by Pope John Paul II in 1999.

On December 10, 2019, the feast of Our Lady of Loreto,  Bishop Gerardo J. Colacicco and Bishop Edmund Whalen were ordained to the episcopacy. 

Statement:

First, I offer prayers of thanksgiving to Almighty God for the gift of my priesthood, and for His call to serve the Church in the Archdiocese of New York in this new way. I am grateful to our Holy Father, Pope Francis, and to my archbishop, Cardinal Dolan, for their trust in me, as I undertake these new responsibilities.

Growing up in a tight knit nuclear and extended family was a source of many blessings for which I thank my parents and my sisters and brother. We were raised in the Faith and attended Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish and St. Mary’s Parish, Poughkeepsie. During high school and college, I worked in St. Mary’s Parish Rectory and was greatly influenced by my Pastor, Msgr. Matthew J. Cox. Another profound influence was Bishop Joseph M. Pernicone,, whom I knew and greatly admired from my days at Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The Bishop encouraged me in my vocation during my years at Saint Joseph’s Seminary. I was honored that at my First Mass Msgr. Cox preached and Bishop Pernicone was present and spoke at  the end of Mass. Msgr. Cox was my model for Priesthood and now, Bishop Pernicone becomes my model for the Episcopacy. 

I was fortunate to have a number of wonderful assignments during my years of Priesthood, among them being the Priest Secretary to Cardinal O’Connor.  During that year I was privileged to live and work with a true Shepherd and learned much by listening and observing him on a daily basis. The highlight of those assignments was becoming a Pastor of souls. My three pastorates have been wonderful experiences with loving people and holy priest associates. My involvement with the Knights of Columbus continues to be a source of inspiration and joy.  I am humbled and honored to have been asked to serve the Church and the Archdiocese of New York as an Auxiliary Bishop to Cardinal Dolan. I pray that I will continue to serve with a compassionate and faithful heart. I entrust myself to Our Lady and St. Joseph who keep me close to Jesus.

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