Priest of Venice Diocese ordained as bishop for the military archdiocese

Auxiliary Bishop Gregg M. Caggianelli becomes the first U.S. bishop ordained after election of Pope Leo XIV

Jean Gonzalez – The Florida Catholic

After witnessing her son vested in episcopal garb, Barbara Caggianelli began to cry happy tears as she said, “Thank you God.”

The emotional moment was one of many for a local priest described as a wonderful son, great preacher, and man of God with a deep sense of prayer, who became ordained as a bishop to serve the Armed Forces.

For three decades, Father Gregg M. Caggianelli had served in the military as a chaplain and active reservist, earning the rank of colonel in the U.S. Air Force. On May 9, 2025, he became the first U.S. bishop ordained after election of Pope Leo XIV. Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the Military Services, USA, ordained the Diocese of Venice priest as an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach, where the new bishop has served for years as a priest, professor and administrator.

“I’ve been in the military longer than I’ve been in the seminary so it’s my two worlds colliding,” Bishop Caggianelli said after his ordination.

Along with serving as a professor of homiletics, Bishop Caggianelli served as dean of formation, which he said gave him the heart to care about how the priests are doing, “especially our military chaplains who are isolated, by themselves.” His role to encourage the priests “to encourage love among their people” will continue in his role as episcopal shepherd. In that sense, he said the Parable of the Good Shepherd has even more meaning as a bishop.

“Whenever we are given a new challenge, a new responsibility, new opportunity, it is Jesus calling us to go deeper, really calling all of us to go into deeper waters to trust him more, to follow him, and to proclaim that he is risen from the dead,” Bishop Caggianelli said. “I love (the servicemembers) very much. I’m inspired by their service and their dedication.”

In his homily, Archbishop Broglio spoke about the divided secular world, where life after death, judgement, truth and even the existence of God are questioned. Many times, the impact of the Gospel is diminished. He urged his “little brother” to take the words of Pope Leo XIV to heart when he said we are called to unity and to mission.

“Those must remain special watchwords to you,” the archbishop said. “Jesus praised that the disciples be enveloped in the father’s love, which makes them holy and empowers them for their mission in the world.”

Archbishop Broglio spoke about the symbols of the new office given during the ordination — the ring, mitre and crozier. He said while the symbols draw attention during events and Mass, they should not draw attention away from Jesus Christ, who is always the “center of our attention and the object of our life pilgrimage.”

“With mitre, staff and ring, embrace the people and lead them to that kingdom that does not pass away. Consecrate them in the truth for his grace is sufficient for us.”

Unity and mission should be at the forefront of ministry among servicemembers, which will be challenging the archbishop shared. As one of five auxiliary bishops now serving with Archbishop Broglio, they bring the Gospel to 1.8-million Catholics worldwide in all branches of the U.S. Military and those hospitalized in the nation’s VA medical centers or working for the government as civilians beyond U.S. borders. That translates to miles to travel, many communities to visit, and “misunderstandings to clarify.” But the mission is steadfast: To respond to the “special challenge to stir to flame the gift of God that stirs in us first in the waters of baptism.”

“We are challenged to rekindle the faith of so many men and women who have drifted away and whose embers of faith have grown cold. Be a father to them and draw them back into the life of grace,” the archbishop said.

Bishop Caggianelli was ordained as a priest of the Diocese of Venice, and its own episcopal shepherd, Bishop Frank J. Dewane served as a co-consecrator, along with David L. Toups of Beaumont, Texas, former rector of the Boynton Beach seminary. Among the other bishops who laid hands upon the priest’s head invoking the Holy Spirit were prelates of the Military Archdiocese and from across Florida, including Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami, Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito of Palm Beach, Bishop William Wack, CSC, of Pensacola-Tallahassee, retired Bishop Felipe Estevez of St. Augustine, and Auxiliary Bishop Enrique Delgado of Miami.

“Bishop Gregg, welcome to the episcopal brotherhood,” Bishop Wack said, describing the newly ordained as a hard worker but very down to earth, and a joyful person.”

Sitting with the new bishop on the altar were Father Alfredo I. Hernández, rector and president of the seminary, and Msgr. Robert R. Cannon, retired chaplain for the U.S. Air Force and a fellow priest of the Diocese of Venice. Bishop Caggianelli credited Msgr. Cannon for encouraging his discernment of priestly vocation.

With his experience as a chaplain, as a serviceman himself and as a professor, Msgr. Cannon said his friend’s appointment was a “perfect fit.”

“We have been dear friends for very long time,” said Msgr. Cannon, who previously served as chancellor for the Military Archdiocese. “He’s very funny and has a great sense of humor. He works hard, he loves Jesus, he’s smart. He loves people. He will be a fine bishop.”

After completing the semester at the seminary, Bishop Caggianelli will stay local even though he is now incardinated in the Archdiocese for the Military Services. He will serve military installations across the state of Florida.

The seminary lived-streamed the celebration on social media where it can still be viewed at https://www.svdp.edu/live or https://www.facebook.com/SVdPSem.

Earlier version of story

BOYNTON BEACH | Gregg M. Caggianelli was ordained an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary, where the new bishop — an active reservist and colonel in the U.S. Air Force —vhas served for years as a priest, professor and administrator.

Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, of the Military Services, celebrated the ordination through the laying of hands and the invocation of the Holy Spirit. He anointed the new bishop’s head with oil, placed the bishop’s ring on his right ring finger, and presented him with the miter and crosier under the prayerful gaze of a packed congregation in St. Vincent’s Chapel.

In his homily, noting that “the secular age has blinded many to the idea of truth, life after death, and judgment,” Archbishop Broglio implored Bishop Caggianelli to spread the truth of the Gospel: “Pope Leo has called us to unity and mission. As the first U.S. bishop ordained after his election, those must remain special watchwords for you. To borrow from Saint John Neumann, if we have accepted the truth of Christ and committed our lives to him, there can be no separation between what we believe and the way we live our lives. Our every thought, word, and action must be directed to the glory of God and the spread of his kingdom…. With miter, staff, and ring, embrace this people and lead them to that kingdom that does not pass away. Consecrate them in the truth, for His grace is sufficient for you.”

Prior to the ordination, Bishop Caggianelli, 57, made a public profession of Catholic faith, and he took the oath of fidelity. His ordination brings to five the number of auxiliary bishops now serving with Archbishop Broglio in his ministry to 1.8-million Catholics worldwide in all branches of the U.S. Military and those hospitalized in the nation’s VA medical centers or working for the government as civilians beyond U.S. borders.

Dozens of priests and bishops — including the co-consecrators Bishops Frank J. Dewane of Venice and David L. Toups of Beaumont, Texas — were on hand at the celebration along with family and friends of the new bishop. Along with Bishop Dewane, Florida prelates on hand included Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami, Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito of Palm Beach, Bishop William Wack, CSC, of Pensacola-Tallahassee, retired Bishop Felipe Estevez of St. Augustine, and Auxiliary Bishop Enrique Delgado of Miami.

Sitting with the new bishop on the altar were Father Alfredo I. Hernández, rector and president of the seminary, and Msgr. Robert R. Cannon, retired chaplain for the U.S. Air Force and AMS chancellor. Both Msgr Cannon and Bishop Caggianelli served as priests of the Diocese of Venice. Bishop Caggianelli credited Msgr. Cannon for encouraging his discernment of priestly vocation.

The seminary lived-streamed the celebration on social media where it can still be viewed at https://www.svdp.edu/live or https://www.facebook.com/SVdPSem.

 

 

Diocesan priest named Auxiliary Bishop of Archdiocese for Military Services

Pope Francis named Father Gregg M. Caggianelli, a priest of the Diocese of Venice, as the new Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS), on Feb. 21, 2025.

Bishop-elect Caggianelli was ordained in the Diocese of Venice in 2002 and for the Diocese served as Director of Vocations and Seminary Formation (2007-2010), as well as Administrator of St. Francis Xavier Parish in Fort Myers (2010-2013) and Parochial Vicar at Incarnation Parish in Sarasota (2002-2010). Since 2013, he has served at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary (SVDP) in Boynton Beach, first as an advisor, then professor, and most recently as Vice Rector and Dean of Human Formation, as well as Assistant Professor of Homiletics.

Bishop-elect Caggianelli has also served in the U.S. Air Force in both active duty and reserves since 1990, and is currently a Chaplain Colonel. His Air Force Reserve assignment is at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he serves as senior Reserve advisor to the USAFA Chaplain and as senior team leader of the Academy’s Reserve chaplains and religious affairs airmen.

Bishop Frank J. Dewane expressed his gratitude to His Holiness Pope Francis for the appointment of Bishop-elect Caggianelli to the Episcopate and prays that his ministry be filled with blessings and inspiration as he undertakes this new responsibility serving our Lord and our nation.

“It is truly an honor to have a priest of the Diocese of Venice chosen as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA,” Bishop Dewane said. “I ask that all Priests, Deacons and faithful of the Diocese of Venice share in my joy at this appointment and pray for the successful ministry of Bishop-elect Caggianelli.”

In accepting the new role, Bishop-elect Caggianelli said he was “most humble and grateful for his appointment, while counting his many blessings. He stated: “I am deeply grateful for the unconditional love of my mom and dad. God has blessed me with dear friends who both support me and call me to task when I have failed, and I am grateful to the people of the Diocese of Venice and the men and women I work with at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary.”

Reflecting on this appointment, Bishop-elect Caggianelli said, “After the initial shock and disbelief, and much time begging for God’s mercy, I was filled with true praise and thanksgiving to God… As I begin this new journey, I look forward to giving my life in service of our Lord in the care of our soldiers, sailors, airmen, coastguardsmen, guardians, veterans and diplomats throughout the world.”

Born Aug. 2, 1968, in Kingston, New York, the Bishop-Elect earned a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Michigan in 1990 and received a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Dayton, Ohio, in 1994. He also has a doctorate of ministry in homiletics from the Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis.

Bishop-elect Caggianelli was commissioned in 1990 as a U.S. Air Force line officer serving at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. After leaving active duty, he entered the Air Force Reserve while completing priestly formation at St. Vincent de Paul regional Seminary, earning a degree in divinity. He was Ordained to the Priesthood on Oct. 25, 2002, at Epiphany Cathedral, Venice, by Most Rev. John J. Nevins, then the Bishop of the Diocese of Venice. He has been an Air Force Reserve Chaplain since 2002.

The Episcopal Ordination of Bishop-elect Caggianelli will occur at a time and place to be set by Most Rev. Timothy P. Broglio, Archbishop for the Military Services, sometime in the next few weeks.

The Archdiocese for the Military Services, based in Washington, serves U.S. Catholics of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Department of Veterans Affairs and those in government service outside the United States. Worldwide, an estimated 1.8 million Catholics depend on the military archdiocese to meet their spiritual and sacramental needs.