Reverend Monsignor David L. Cassato, B.A., M.TH., M.S. IN ED.

Monsignor Cassato was born in Brooklyn, New York on September 2, 1947 to Diejo and Filomena Cassato, whose families both originated from just outside of Palermo, Sicily.

 

He was raised in the Canarsie section of Brooklyn and received his Sacraments of Initiation in the parish of Holy Family, where he completed his Elementary education with distinction in Social Studies. He completed his high school education at St. John’s Preparatory High School in Brooklyn in 1964, where he was a member of the Moore Honor Society.

In 1966 he received an associate degree from Cathedral College Seminary in Brooklyn. In 1968 he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy while attending Niagara University in New York. He continued his studies to receive a Master of Theology in 1972. In 2002 he graduated magna cum laude from Mercy College in NY and received a Master of Science Degree in Education.

Upon completion of his formation at the Seminary of Our Lady of the Angels in New York, Monsignor Cassato was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn on May 27th, 1972, at Saint James Cathedral in Brooklyn, New York.

Msgr. Cassato’s ecclesiastical assignments include:
 
    *1972 to 1985- Served as Parochial Vicar in the parish of St. Rita in Long Island City, New York.

    *1985 to 2001-Served as Parochial Administrator and later Pastor of the parish of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, where he gained recognition for promoting Italian culture through the annual Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St. Paulinus.

   *1997 to present- Serves as Supreme Chaplain to the International Order of Columbiettes.

   *2001 to present- Serves as Police Chaplain to the New York City Police Department. In the aftermath of September 11th, Monsignor Cassato was appointed special liaison of the N.Y.P.D. to the Arab American Community in Brooklyn to help combat bigotry. In 2017 he was promoted to Deputy Chief Chaplain of the Police Department of the City of New York.

    *2001 to 2022- He served as Pastor of the parish of St. Athanasius in Bensonhurst Brooklyn, New York.
 
Msgr. Cassato’s Papal Honors include:
 
   *1988- Named Prelate of Honor to His Holiness.
 
    *1996- Knight of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem.
 
Other appointments include:
 
  *2001 to 2006- Elected member of the Presbyteral Council of the Diocese of Brooklyn.
 
  *2002- Member of the Board of Directors of Maimonides Hospital in Brooklyn, New York.
 
  *2003- Appointed as Chaplain of Bishop Kearney High School.
 
  *2004- Member of the Board of Directors of Parkway Hospital in Queens, New York.
 
  *2005 - Appointed member of the College of Consultors of the Diocese of Brooklyn.
 
  *2005- Appointed member of the New York State Commission on the Elderly.
 
  *2015- Appointed Administrator of the Parish of St. Dominic.
 
  *2016- Appointed to diocesan coordinator of ministry to Italian Immigrants.
 
  *2018- Appointed Pastor of the parish of St. Dominic Church in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, New York.
 
  *2020- Appointed as the Vicar of Catholic Schools in Brooklyn and Queens Diocese.