by Father William G. Smith

First impressions of Bishop Frank Caggiano are remarkably similar. After only a few minutes with him, it is obvious that he is a supremely talented person with almost unlimited energy. These are valuable gifts that can produce much but in and of themselves only reveal the possessor of good management skills. They do not necessarily exhibit real leadership.

Indeed, so many disasters in the world have been produced by the best and the brightest that I am suspicious of prodigies of any sort other than tennis. True leadership is based on relationships that give strength and direction and develop mutual respect and loyalty. It is here that we will find why Bishop Frank will be so missed in Brooklyn and why Bridgeport, Conn., is receiving such a wonderful gift.

My own relationship with Bishop Frank began with the transition of a parish school into a charter school. I was, as everyone, impressed with his command of the facts and his ability to see unintended consequences. This was a long process, and in its course, we discovered that both of our mothers were seriously ill. We would often schedule meetings around doctors’ appointments and other parental maintenance issues and, even with this planning, often had to leave early. This created a bond not only between us but our mothers as well. They set aside Tuesdays to pray for each other and, of course, their sons.

Bishop Frank’s efficient execution of his diocesan responsibilities while taking his share of the care for his mother was second nature for him, but so was his continual concern for me, my mother and many other people. By this, I mean not only the quantitative element of juggling obligations but the qualitative one of not ministering to people in administrative mode. Our mothers eventually died, and I hope I was as supportive to him as he was to me.

It became clear that he was able to do these things not in spite of these many relationships but because of them. As parish priests can attest, sometimes when we are most tired, a visit to the school or a hospital can give us a new burst of energy. But this is more than the spiritual equivalent of an energy drink. Relationships, to be truly beneficial, must shape how we meet and minister to other people.

One example: Anyone who has seen Bishop Frank speak at a school, or just watched him on diocesan television, knows how he comes alive with children. It is no wonder that he has twice been chosen to be one of the few American bishops to give catechesis at World Youth Days. These connections and relationships provide a wonderful experience for all present at the moment. They will also bear fruit in the Diocese of Brooklyn in future ages in the reorganization of our schools, appropriately titled “Preserving the Vision.”

As a manager, Bishop Caggiano took Bishop DiMarzio’s mandate to change the governance of the schools as a challenge of resources, manpower and the countless details that would develop. His solution is a masterpiece of realism.

As a leader, Bishop Frank, through time, conversation and consultation, knew the principals, parents, teachers and, most importantly, the students. He guided the process with concern and compassion as well as competence. Managers can use their knowledge of facts and figures to build for the moment; leaders can use their knowledge of people to build for a generation.

From where does this come? The acorn does not fall far from the tree, and here we must thank his parents, especially his mother, Gennarina. It is especially fitting that Bishop Frank has chosen Sept. 19, the feast of St. Januarius better known to us as San Gennaro and thus his mother’s feast day, for his installation as Bishop of Bridgeport. It also happens to be her birth date.

The key relationship for us all of course is with Our Lord Jesus. To quote St. Augustine, “Love God first and everyone else because of Him.” A person with responsibilities can call him or herself a Christian leader only if the first relationship is with the God revealed in Jesus Christ. With Jesus at the center, we never lose sight of the humanity of those with whom we work, especially those we are called to lead.

So, to the people of Bridgeport, as all will have told you, you are getting a person of enormous talent and vitality, and you should rejoice in it. But more than that, we are sending you a bishop who will see his ministry not primarily as managing issues and situations to a positive resolution but as leading brothers and sisters to a positive relationship with Jesus and, through Him, with each other.