Msgr. Frank Caldwell '69 ' 73

Msgr. Francis J. Caldwell is the oldest of ten children born to the late Emilie Joan and Frank Caldwell from St. Mary’s Parish, Manhasset. He earned a Master of Divinity Degree from the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception and was ordained in 1981. He later earned a Master’s in Social Work from Adelphi University.

During the forty-four years of his priesthood, Monsignor has served at just parishes—St. Martha, Uniondale, for sixteen years (as Associate and later as Pastor); St. Agnes Cathedral for nineteen years (as Vice Chancellor/Secretary to the Bishop for nine years; then Director of Clergy Personnel/Vicar for Clergy for ten years); and, for the past nine years as Pastor of The Curé of Ars Parish, Merrick. In addition to parish ministry, he has also served on the boards of St. Francis Hospital, Mercy Hospital, Catholic Charities, and at Molloy College/University as a trustee and later as Board Chair. Over the years, he has been instrumental in fostering the vocations of many young men and serving as a mentor during their formation and early priesthood.

St. Mary’s Parish, especially through the leadership of Msgr. Wiest, was extremely influential in his own vocation. St. Mary’s High School was a most valuable and enjoyable aspect of his formation as a student, where seven out of nine siblings also attended.