Three new auxiliaries for Brooklyn

Vatican City, Jun 5, 2006 / 22:00 pm

Pope Benedict XVI has named three new auxiliary bishops for the Diocese of Brooklyn.

They include Msgr. Octavio Cisneros, rector of the Cathedral Seminary Residence of the Immaculate Conception and secretary for priestly formation; Msgr. Guy Sansaricq, pastor of St. Jerome Parish and national director of Haitian Ministry; and, Msgr. Frank J. Caggiano, Episcopal vicar of for Evangelization and Pastoral Life.

The nominations increase the number of auxiliary bishops for the diocese to four. They will join Auxiliary Bishop Ignatius Castellano in assisting Bishop Nicholas Di Marzio with the tasks of ministering to the large, multicultural diocese. Two auxiliaries recently retired: Auxiliary Bishops Rene Valero and Joseph Sullivan. Msgr. Guy Sansaricq was born in 1934 in Jérémie, Haiti. He studied at Saint Paul’s Seminary in Ottawa, Canada, where he earned his licentiates in philosophy and theology. He earned a licentiate in social sciences from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Les Cayes in Haiti in 1960, but he served most of his priestly life in the U.S. From 1977 to 1993, he served as associate pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Cambria Heights, and for many years as diocesan co-ordinator for Haitian Ministry. He has served as national director of Haitian Ministry since 1987. He was only incardinated in the Diocese of Brooklyn in 1991. He has been pastor of St. Jerome Parish since 1993.

Msgr. Sansaricq founded Haitian Apostolate Publications. He speaks English, French and Creole and was named a Prelate of Honor in 1999.

Msgr. Cisneros was born in 1945 in La Habana, Cuba. He attended Immaculate Conception Seminary in Huntington, where he received his Master’s of Divinity in 1971, the same year he was ordained for the Diocese of Brooklyn.

He served as associate pastor in three parishes, from 1971 to 1979 — St. Rita’s, Saint Francis of Assisi, and St. Michael’s. From 1979 to 1991, he was co-ordinator of Hispanic Ministry for the diocese and pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows. He served as Episcopal vicar of Brooklyn East from 1991 to 2004. He is currently the rector of the Cathedral Seminary Residence of the Immaculate Conception. He speaks three languages— English, Spanish and Italian—and was named a Prelate of Honor in 1988.

Msgr. Frank J. Caggiano is the youngest and the only Brooklyn native of the three. He was born in 1959 and studied at Immaculate Conception Seminary, where he earned his Master’s of Divinity. He was ordained for the Diocese of Brooklyn in 1987 and served as associate pastor at St. Agatha’s, St. Athanasius and St. Jude’s. From 1992 to 1996, he studied at the Pontifical Gregorian University, where he earned his Ph.D. in Theology. He returned to Brooklyn and served as pastor of St. Dominic Parish. Since 2003, he has served as the diocesan vicar for Evangelization and Pastoral Life.

Msgr. Caggiano has published many articles in theological and diocesan publications. He speaks English and Italian. In 2003, he was named Chaplain to His Holiness.