BRIDGEPORT—On Saturday, June 24, Bishop Frank J. Caggiano will ordain three men as priests for the Diocese of Bridgeport.
Because two of the men are of Hispanic background, both born in Bogotá, Colombia, readings at the ordination will be in Spanish and English. Harry Prieto and José Vásquez came to this diocese from Colombia; Timothy Iannocone was born in Stamford.
During the Mass the mothers of all three men will bring up the offertory gifts. Sandra Riano, cousin of Father Vásquez will deliver a reading in Spanish; Elizabeth Nichols, godmother of Father Iannacone, will read in English.
“The day of priestly ordinations is one of the most beautiful days for the diocese, because it is a day of great hope, says Father John Connaughton, director of vocations for the Diocese of Bridgeport. “We’re very proud of the men who are being ordained. They will be great members of the presbyterate of this diocese, and we pray that their witness will inspire many other young men to respond to God’s offer of the priestly vocation. We pray that they may be good, holy happy priests of Jesus Christ.”
Timothy A. Iannacone
Timothy Albert Iannacone, 27, was born in Stamford and baptized in St. Mary Church there. He now lives in Norwalk, where his home parish is another St. Mary’s, the proud mother church of Norwalk. His parents, Timothy and Patricia Zygmont Iannacone, and his brother Christopher are members of St. Thomas the Apostle in Norwalk. He attended Wolfpit Elementary School and All Saints Catholic School, and graduated from Norwalk High School in 2008.
Father Iannacone graduated from Merrimack College in North Andover, Mass., in 2012, where he was inducted into Theta Alpha Kappa, the National Honor society for Religious and Theological Studies.
He was ordained to the transitional diaconate by Bishop Frank J. Caggiano in 2016 and completed his seminary studies at the Theological College of the Catholic University of America this spring.
Father Iannacone will celebrate his first Mass at St. Mary’s in Norwalk at 9:30 am on Sunday, June 25. Father Edward J. Enright, OSA, associate professor of religious and theological studies at Merrimack College, will give the homily.
“I heard it once said that one should not become a priest if one does not love people. Indeed, it is my love for God’s people that has brought me here,” Father Iannacone says. “The Church needs strong and intelligent priests who will be defenders of the truth in the face of every obstacle that confronts them. This is why I want to become a priest; not for myself, but for the service of God’s Church and his people.”
Harry A. Prieto
Harry Alfredo Prieto, 30, was born in Bogotá, Colombia, and grew up in a family of three boys and one girl. His parents, Alfredo Prieto and Luz Jaramillo are parishioners at Santiago Apóstol Parish in Bogotá.
He attended Annunciation Elementary school and graduated from Neruda High School in Bogotá in 2003. Discerning a religious vocation, he went to the Seminario Mayor de Bogotá and then earned a bachelor of science degree from the Universidad Javeriana in that city in 2009. Coming to this country, he completed a Bachelor of Arts degree from Fordham University. Always interested in intellectual challenges, he was elected a member of Phi Sigma Tau National Honor Society in philosophy in 2013. After graduating from Fordham in 2014, he entered the Theological College of the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where he completed his S.T.B. degree in 2017.
Father Prieto will celebrate his first Mass in his home parish of St. Joseph in Danbury on June 25 at 12 noon. Father Samuel Scott, St. Joseph’s pastor, will deliver the homily.
“The priesthood is a call to serve and to grow as a leader in the Christian community, striving to be not only ‘alter Christus’ but also ‘alter Jesus,’ in preparation for the mission to ‘go out and make disciples of all nations,’” Father Prieto says. “In view of that, God has blessed me with a time of grace and discipleship. In carrying out the mission, God’s love and grace move me with hope and confidence to serve the faithful with Christ, the Good Sheppard, as inspiration and model.”
José A. Vásquez
José Abelardo Vásquez Romero, 33, was also born in Bogotá, where his parents, Bernardo and Elsy Campos Vásquez, are members of Santiago Apostol Parish. His brother, Rodrigo, also lives in Bogotá.
A complex young man, he likes to play soccer and enjoys being out in nature. At the same time, he has a love of theology and likes to reflect, meditate and study the word of God. He attended Antonio Noriño Elementary School and Politéchnico Mayor High School, graduating in 2005. He entered the Seminario Mayor de Bogotá, and earned a bachelor’s degree from the Universidad Javeriana in 2010.
Responding to a call for priests in this diocese, he entered St. John Fisher Seminary and studied at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield. His home parish is the Church of the Assumption in Westport. He completed his deacon internship at Assumption this past year. Father Vásquez graduated from St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers, N.Y., this year.
Father Vásquez will celebrate his first Mass at Assumption Parish on June 25 at 12 noon. Father Thomas Thorne, Assumption’s pastor, will give the homily.
“One of the things I most enjoy is to work with parish groups and be present at their activities,” he says, mentioning in particular the religious education students, Bible studies, and men’s and women’s groups he had the chance to work with this past year. “As the young are the present and future of the Church, I believe in supporting and encouraging their activities. I also believe in the importance of the new evangelization for the future of the Church.”
