After returning to Brooklyn, he served as a parochial vicar at another Brooklyn parish and the dean of formation of the diocese's permanent diaconate program, which he later served as director.
In December 1998 then-Father Caggiano was named pastor of St. Dominic's Church in the Bensonhurst region of Brooklyn. He also taught many courses in theology at St. Joseph's College and the Staten Island campus of St. John's University.
Pope John Paul II named the priest a papal chaplain in 2003. Bishop DiMarzio named him Vicar for Evangelization and Pastoral Life in 2004 and ordained him a bishop in August 2006.
Monsignor Jerald A. Doyle, administrator of the Bridgeport diocese since May 2012, said the diocese welcomed the appointment.
"The Holy Father has blessed us with a priest, pastor and teacher with extensive experience at every level of diocesan ministries," he said July 31. "Most importantly, he is a man of deep faith, love for the Church and commitment to the Gospel. On behalf of the clergy, religious and laity, we welcome him with open arms and with our prayers that God will bless him as the shepherd of our diocese."
Bishop DiMarzio said Bishop Caggiano led the reorganization of Catholic schools and academies to make them more sustainable. He also helped guide all the diocese's parishes to a "firm financial footing."
"Bishop Caggiano embodies the best of the vision that Pope Francis has for those who are called to be shepherds in the Church," the bishop said. "I offer my prayers for Bishop Caggiano as he undertakes this new ministry in his Episcopacy."
The bishop's installation Mass is scheduled for Sept. 19.
The Diocese of Bridgeport has a population of over 925,000 people, of whom almost 411,000 are Catholic, the U.S. bishops' conference reports.
The previous Bishop of Bridgeport was Archbishop William Edward Lori, who now heads the Archdiocese of Baltimore.