As the Church celebrates renewed engagement in the faith, and the festivities of Holy Week subside, Archbishop Ronald Hicks announced leadership changes for the archdiocesan staff of the Archdiocese of New York.  

Bishop Edmund Whalen, who has served as Vicar for Clergy since 2019, will replace Monsignor Joseph LaMorte as Vicar General, Archbishop Ronald Hicks announced April 7. 

Bishop Gerardo Colacicco, who has served as auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of New York since 2019, will succeed Bishop Whalen as Vicar for Clergy, Archbishop Hicks also announced. 

Monsignor Joseph P. LaMorte will be retiring to the Saint John Vianney Clergy Residence after more than seven years of dedication to the role of Vicar General.  

“Since my arrival I have heard from you about Monsignor LaMorte’s selfless service and personal kindness, both of which I have experienced, and for which I am deeply grateful,” wrote Archbishop Hicks in an email announcement to archdiocesan staff.

In an exclusive comment to The Good Newsroom, Monsignor LaMorte shared, “I really, really enjoyed the job. It was a good last job for a parish priest who has spent all of his life in parochial work.”

When asked about his successor, Bishop Whalen, Monsignor LaMorte reflected on their time working together, saying, “We’re both going on eight years together here. Vicar General and Personnel Director have always worked closely together. So, it was an easy fit [for the Vicar General position] because we knew each other and worked well together… He takes on this responsibility, which is an important job, and there’s a lot of work, and it’s all in service to the people.”

Bishop Edmund Whalen, new Vicar General 

Bishop Edmund Whalen, who has served as Vicar for Clergy since 2019, will replace Monsignor Joseph LaMorte as Vicar General. Whalen will remain in his role as Episcopal Vicar for Manhattan. 

Of Bishop Whalen, the archbishop noted, “With his gifted skills and true love for the Church, I am confident that he will also serve well in this new role as Vicar General.”

“Every assignment I’ve had is a new opportunity to serve God’s people,” Bishop Whalen told The Good Newsroom when asked about his new role. “Each of us priests has a role to play, and whatever role the archbishop decides each priest should play is what they do. We’re all in it together. If we don’t stick together, we can’t serve God’s people well.”

A native of Staten Island, Whalen has served in several parishes and schools since being ordained to the priesthood in 1984. As an educator, he served as religion teacher and chair of the Religion Department at his alma mater, Monsignor Farrell High School, and teacher of moral theology at St. Joseph’s Seminary, Dunwoodie. In 1990, he was appointed secretary to John Cardinal O’Connor. 

From 1997 to 1998, he served as Vice Rector of Dunwoodie and then Rector of St. John Neumann Seminary Residence in Riverdale from 1998 to 2001. He also served as pastor of St. Benedict’s Parish and St. Joseph-St. Thomas Parish.

Whalen became the principal of Monsignor Farrell High School in 2010. He served in the role until his appointment as vicar for clergy in 2019.

In January, 2019 Cardinal Dolan named him Vicar for Clergy.

Bishop Whalen praised Archbishop Hicks’ “excellent choice” for the new Vicar for Clergy, Bishop Colacicco, telling The Good Newsroom, “He’s prayerful. He cares about the priests. He’s attentive to their needs. He’s got the personal experience and dedication to the priesthood that can help our priests spiritually and ministerially.”

Bishop Gerardo Colacicco, new Vicar for Clergy 

Bishop Gerardo Colacicco, in succeeding Bishop Whalen as Vicar for Clergy, will add to his list of roles as the Episcopal Vicar for Putnam, Dutchess, Orange, Ulster, and Sullivan Counties. 

Archbishop Hicks noted Bishop Colacicco’s “prayerful, gentle, and sage appreciation for our shared ministry,” and affirmed that the new Vicar for Clergy “will provide the needed pastoral care for our clergy as we care for God’s people.” 

Speaking with The Good Newsroom, Bishop Colacicco shared, “I was a bit surprised when I received the news, but I have always said yes to His call, and this request was no less. I am honored to be asked to take this position by the archbishop, and I look forward to serving closer with my brother priests.” 

Born in Poughkeepsie, Bishop Colacicco studied for the priesthood at St. Joseph’s Seminary, Dunwoodie, before his ordination in 1982. His pastoral assignments include Sacred Heart Parish in Newburgh, Good Shepherd Parish in Rhinebeck, Our Lady of Fatima in Scarsdale,  Saint Denis-Saint Columba in Hopewell Junction (before becoming priest-secretary to John Cardinal O’Connor), and Sacred Heart Parish in Newburgh, Saint Columba in Hopewell Junction, and at Saint Joseph – Immaculate Conception, Millbrook. 

He has also served on the Metropolitan Tribunal of the archdiocese, and for four years, as Director of Pastoral Formation at Saint Joseph’s Seminary. 

On working with Bishop Whalen, Colacicco said, “We all work well together, not just in the work but the brotherhood we have through our mission. I’m excited to see how this role can deepen that brotherhood.” 

Bishops Whalen and Colacicco’s appointments take effect April 7, 2026. 

This is a developing story. Please stay tuned to The Good Newsroom for updates.

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The Good Newsroom’s Patrick Grady contributed to this report.