Gerardo Joseph Colacicco (born September 19, 1955) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who has been serving as auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of New York since 2019. He serves as the episcopal vicar for the northern counties of the Archdiocese.
Biography
Early life
Geraldo Colacicco was born on September 19, 1955, in Poughkeepsie, New York, the eldest of four children of Angelo and Irma Colacicco. Angelo Colacicco worked for the US Postal Service, then became a custodian at St. Mary's Parish in Poughkeepsie.[1] During high school and college, Geraldo Colacicco worked at the St. Mary's rectory. He later identified Reverend Matthew J. Cox from St. Mary's and Reverend Joseph Maria Pernicone from Our Lady of Mount Carmel's Parish in Poughkeepsie as influences on him.[1][2]
Colacicco graduated in 1978 with a Bachelor of Arts in history from Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York, with minors in philosophy and Russian studies. He then entered Saint Joseph's Seminary in Yonkers, New York.[3] During his studies at Saint Joseph's, Colacicco served as a transitional deacon at Sacred Heart Parish in Newburgh, New York.[4]
Priesthood
On November 6, 1982, Colacicco was ordained to the priesthood at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan for the Archdiocese of New York by Cardinal Terence Cooke.[2] The archdiocese assigned Colacicco as parochial vicar at the following New York parishes:
After returning to New York, the archdiocese placed Colacicco as a judge on the metropolitan tribunal. He was also named as director of pastoral formation at Saint Joseph’s Seminary. Colacicco left his diocesan positions to become pastor of Sacred Heart in 1996. He remained at Sacred Heart for 16 years.[4] The Vatican elevated Colacicco to the rank of prelate of honor of his holiness in 1999. In 2002, he was transferred to the pastorate of St. Columba's Parish in Hopewell Junction. Colacicco also returned to the metropolitan tribunal for another term in 2007.[4]
Colacicco left St. Columba in 2014 to become administrator of St. Joseph Parish in Millbrook, New York, which became St. Joseph-Immaculate Conception Parish the next year.[1][4]
Auxiliary Bishop of New York
Pope Francis appointed Colacicco as an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of New York on October 10, 2019.[4] On December 10, 2019, Colacicco was consecrated as a bishop by Cardinal Timothy Dolan, with Archbishop Henry J. Mansell and Auxiliary Bishop Gerald Walsh acting as co-consecrators.[5]
As auxiliary bishop, Colacicco is the episcopal vicar for the northern counties of the archdiocese which include Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Ulster, and Sullivan counties.[6] In April 2020, as part of the Good Friday liturgy at St. Patrick's Cathedral, Colacicco gave a meditation on the seven last words said to have been spoken by Jesus from the cross. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the service was live-streamed. His reflections were subsequently published in Beneath the Cross.[6]
Colacicco is a member of the Knights of Columbus and is an associate chaplain for the New York State Council of the Knights.
