Bishop Ignatius A. Catanello (1938-2013) was born in Brooklyn and served in the Diocese of Brooklyn his entire life. He also served in Queens, living at the Holy Family rectory in Fresh Meadows from 1989 until his death in 2013. He served as the Holy Family Pastor from 2007 until his retirement in 2010.

In addition, he served as pastor of Saint Rita in Long Island City and St. Helen in Howard Beach; was the principal of Cathedral Preparatory Seminary High School in Elmhurst from 1991 to 1994; served as chaplain for the New York Mets; and taught theology classes at St. John’s University for about 30 years.

Bishop Catanello attended St. Francis College in Brooklyn and Immaculate Conception Seminary in Huntington. He was ordained in 1966 and later earned two master’s degrees from St. John’s University and a doctorate in religious studies from New York University.