BRIDGEPORT—Three priests of the Diocese of Bridgeport have been honored by Pope Francis with the rank of Chaplain to His Holiness, carrying with it the title of Monsignor.

Monsignor Robert J. Crofut, Monsignor Donald A. Guglielmi, and Monsignor Robert M. Kinnally were notified of their new titles, effective January 6, 2023, by Bishop Frank J. Caggiano. The new Papal Honors are the first awarded to priests of the Diocese of Bridgeport since 2008, when the late Pope Benedict XVI recognized 14 priests.

Their elevation to the honor of Chaplain to His Holiness will be celebrated during a Mass and investiture ceremony set for Sunday, April 16, 5:00 p.m. at St. Aloysius Church in New Canaan.

“I am delighted that these three good men and priests have received this special honor from Pope Francis. It is an honor that is richly deserved by each of them based on their lives of faithful ministry and priestly fraternity,” said Bishop Frank J. Caggiano.

“Monsignor Crofut, Monsignor Guglielmi and Monsignor Kinnally have each in their own way lived a priesthood distinguished by outstanding and generous service to the diocese and to the lay faithful along with their personal commitment to grow in holiness. None has sought this honor, but they are all most worthy. In their ministries they have mentored other priests and seminarians, selflessly led parishes and also taken on roles that benefit the entire diocese.”

The title of Monsignor is granted by the Holy Father at the request of the diocesan bishop. Monsignors are recognized as part of the Papal Household and entitled to wear a distinctive cassock outlined in purple. Conferring of the title celebrates the priesthood and also builds up the Church in close union with the Holy Father.
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Courtesy of the Diocese of Bridgeport

Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, Archbishop of New York, Bishop Robert J. Brennan of Brooklyn, and Bishop John O. Barres of Rockville Centre today announced the launching of new programs at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers, to enhance seminary training beginning next fall as part of their implementation of a new model of priestly formation in the United States.

That model, released earlier this year in the sixth edition of the Program for Priestly Formation, aligns with the 2016 document of the Holy See, Ratio Fundamentalis Institutiones Sacerdotalis, where priestly formation seeks to form “missionary disciples who are ‘in love’ with the Master…” To this end, candidates for the priesthood will journey through four stages accompanied by a community of formators: Propaedeutic, Discipleship, Configuration, and Vocational Synthesis.
To read the complete announcement, click here