|
Photo Courtesy of J. Michaels Photography, Rockville Centre
ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. 24
January 2009 – Pope Benedict XVI today named Rev. Msgr. Robert
Guglielmone, 63, to be the new Bishop of Charleston, South Carolina.
The appointment was announced in Washington, DC today by Archbishop
Pietro Sambi, apostolic nuncio to the United States. Bishop-elect
Guglielmone succeeds Bishop Robert Baker, who headed the Charleston
Diocese before he was named Bishop of Birmingham, August 14, 2007.
Currently serving as rector of the
Cathedral of St. Agnes, Bishop-elect Guglielmone will be ordained and
installed as the 13th bishop of the Diocese of Charleston on March 25,
2009.
“This is a cause of great joy for
all of us who make up the Church of Jesus Christ at Rockville Centre,
here on Long Island,” said Bishop William Murphy, Bishop of the Roman
Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre. “It is a great honor for
our Diocese, that one of her priest sons has been called to lead the
Diocese of Charleston, an historic Diocese that has contributed so much
since its foundation in 1820 when one of the greatest bishops in our
history, John England, was named its first bishop.”
Commenting on his appointment,
Bishop-elect Guglielmone stated, “I am both humbled and grateful that
His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI would entrust this awesome ministry to
me. I must admit that I am a bit anxious about leaving Long Island
where I have spent almost my whole life. However, I do trust in
the Lord and am very encouraged by the wonderful sense of Southern
hospitality I have already experienced.”
The Catholic Diocese of Charleston
comprises the entire state of South Carolina with Charleston as its See
city. Founded in 1820 by Pope Pius VII, it is one of the oldest
Catholic dioceses in the United States. There are currently 118
active Catholic parishes and missions across the state and 31 Catholic
schools, 27 elementary schools, two diocesan high schools and two
private Catholic high schools.
“While we will miss his priestly
presence and fraternal care he extended to one and all, we rejoice in
this appointment which also shines a light to all the fine priests of
this beloved Diocese,” said Bishop Murphy.
In 2007, Bishop-elect Guglielmone was
named Rector of the Cathedral of St. Agnes by Bishop Murphy. Since
2003, Bishop-elect Guglielmone served as diocesan director of clergy
personnel, residing at Our Holy Redeemer parish, Freeport. He was
pastor of St. Frances de Chantal parish, Wantagh from 1993 to 2003.
Prior to that assignment, he was director of pastoral formation and dean
of seminarians at the Immaculate Conception Seminary, Huntington, N.Y.
Pope John Paul II conferred the papal honor of monsignor on him
(specifically, Prelate of Honor) in 1996.
“Bishop-elect Guglielmone is an
outstanding example of the kind of priest who make up this Presbyterate,
a body of priests outstanding in holiness, love of God, commitment to
serve His people and desirous to be “other Christs” for one and all.
The Lord has richly blessed us with holy and zealous priests of whom the
Bishop-elect is one outstanding example,” said Bishop Murphy.
Prior to his ordination, Bishop-elect
Guglielmone taught distributive education (marketing, management,
business, etc.) at Patchogue-Medford High School, Medford, N.Y., from
1968 to 1973. His first assignment after ordination in 1978 was as
associate pastor at St. Martin of Tours parish, Amityville. His
pastoral year was at St. James parish, Setauket.
Born in New York, N.Y. and raised in
Mastic Beach, N.Y., Bishop-elect Guglielmone earned a bachelor’s
degree in education from St. John’s University, Jamaica, N.Y. with a
minor in business. He has been active in scouting since his
seminary days. He has been National Scouting Chaplain, New York
Chaplain, and is chaplain for the International Catholic Conference on
Scouting and the Holy See’s World Ecclesiastical Assistant for
Scouting.
>> Website
of the Diocese of Charleston << |
