Auxiliary Bishop Dominick Lagonegro Retires

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Pope Francis today accepted the resignation of New York Auxiliary Bishop Dominick J. Lagonegro, who most recently has served as episcopal vicar of Orange, Sullivan, Ulster and Rockland counties.

The bishop had submitted his resignation on his 75th birthday March 6, as required by the Code of Canon Law.

Bishop Lagonegro has served as an auxiliary bishop in the archdiocese since his consecration in St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Dec. 12, 2001. He was ordained to the episcopacy along with Bishop Timothy A. McDonnell, now retired as Bishop of Springfield, Mass., and retired Auxiliary Bishop Josu Iriondo, who served as vicar for Hispanic Affairs in the archdiocese.

Bishop Lagonegro served first under Cardinal Edward Egan and since 2009 under Cardinal Dolan. The bishop is well known throughout the archdiocese for his warm and friendly demeanor as well as a joyful pastoral presence.

Bishop Lagonegro, who will celebrate the golden jubilee of his priesthood next May, has served as a pastor of three parishes. He was first a pastor at St. Denis-St. Columba parish in Hopewell Junction, 1989-1992, until St. Columba was made a separate parish, which he served as the first pastor.

In 2002, he was named pastor of Sacred Heart parish, Newburgh, a post he held until being appointed episcopal vicar of Northern Westchester/Putnam, Orange, Sullivan, Ulster and Dutchess counties in 2009.

Most recently, he has served as episcopal vicar of Orange, Sullivan, Ulster and Rockland counties since 2014.

He served as episcopal vicar for Dutchess County, 1997-2002, and was co-vicar of Orange County, 2002-2009.

Bishop Lagonegro recently told CNY that when his resignation as bishop became effective, he looked forward to having more time for pastoral functions, such as presiding at confirmations and celebrating Masses in the parishes of the archdiocese.

A native of White Plains, he was ordained a priest of the archdiocese by Cardinal Terence Cooke in St. Patrick’s Cathedral on May 31, 1969. He also served at the following parishes: St. Vito’s, Mamaroneck; St. Joseph’s, Kingston; and Holy Trinity, Poughkeepsie.

He studied for the priesthood at Cathedral College and St. Joseph’s Seminary, Dunwoodie.

He was named a monsignor in 1995.

A complete story will appear in the July 5 issue of Catholic New York.