By Emily Clark
BRIDGEPORT—On the morning of June 6, the Cathedral Church of St. Augustine was filled—not only with diocesan faithful but with song, with holiness and with joy at the prospects of a remarkable young man on the cusp of becoming a priest.
Dominick Angiolillo, longtime parishioner at St. Theresa Parish in Trumbull, was ordained to the transitional diaconate at a Solemn Pontifical Mass celebrated by Bishop Frank J. Caggiano. Joining the bishop were dozens of concelebrants, deacons, seminarians and members of the Knights of Columbus who gathered with Angiolillo’s family and friends for the jubilant event.
After years of education, training and preparation, Angiolillo now enters his final stage of formation before he is ordained a priest a year from now.
Following the readings offered by Angiolillo’s mother Jodi and sister Jennifer, Deacon Tim Bolton, director of accompaniment for the diocese, read from the Gospel of Luke. Angiolillo was then called to the altar where Father Chris Ford, director of seminarians, testified to his worthiness before the bishop, who replied, “Relying on the help of the Lord God and of our Savior Jesus Christ, we choose this our brother for the Order of the Diaconate.”
In his homily, the bishop alluded to Angiolillo’s years of discernment and realization, saying, “We have all seen in you something far greater, and you discovered it with the wisdom and grace of Jesus Christ. And now, you will be configured to Christ as a servant, and a year from now, with his holy will, a priest.”
He described some of the responsibilities of the transitional diaconate and called Angiolillo “well-formed and ready” for this role, noting that he is among very few men the bishop has met who is this prepared to be a servant of truth.
Reflecting on Angiolillo’s character, Bishop Caggiano told the faithful before him: “I see a man who is truly humble, a man who knows his smallness before God, but that smallness becomes greater when you allow Jesus Christ to enter into your life.”
The bishop then spoke to Angiolillo, saying, “You treat everyone you meet with respect, a characteristic of someone who is truly humble before the Lord. You are a kind man, friendly, welcoming, meeting people where they are. That is the first step toward serving them, and you do that in ways that you probably don’t even realize.
“Dominick, the Lord is calling you to this step in your life,” he added. “Never be afraid of what lies ahead. The Lord is granting you an abundance of his grace; and you will give him glory as a servant of his holy name.”
Standing before the bishop, Angiolillo declared his resolve to accept the duties and responsibilities of the diaconate. He then knelt in front of the sanctuary for the Laying On of Hands and accepted the Book of the Gospels.
As his young nephews waved from the pews and his entire family watched with awe and pride, Angiolillo was vested as a deacon by Monsignor Donald Guglielmi, STD, the spiritual director at St. Joseph Seminary.
The fraternal kiss was offered by the bishop and other deacons before Angiolillo took his place on the altar as priests prepared for the consecration. The joy on his face was unmistakable, and he beamed upon accepting the gifts from his father John and brother Thomas.
Ginny Silva of Newtown, whose son, Father Eric Silva, is the pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Danbury, understood the great joy experienced by the Angiolillo family, having known his parents John and Jodi for years.
“It’s just beautiful,” she said. “I look at them and think about all the baptisms, First Communions and weddings they will have together. It’s such a blessing when a family member is a priest.”
Reflecting on Bishop Caggiano’s characterization of Angiolillo as a kind and humble man, family friend Dave Janny said, “I see that in him personally. Dominick will be a terrific priest. I have lots of confidence in him and what he’ll do.”
Many others echoed Janny’s thoughts, including Andrea Manco, a friend and former coworker of Angiolillo’s mother Jodi who has known the newly ordained deacon since he was a teenager.
“I’m so pleased to be here for this incredible moment in Dominick’s life,” she said. “When I heard the bishop talking about him, I thought ‘Of course! That’s exactly who Dominick is.”
At the conclusion of Mass, Bishop Caggiano announced that the newly ordained Deacon Angiolillo would be assigned to work alongside pastor Father Joseph Marcello at St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Trumbull. His ordination to the priesthood is scheduled for next spring.
