Saturday, January 31, 2009

Pope Benedict appoints Guglielmone new bishop of Charleston

Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Monsignor Robert E. Guglielmone as the 13th bishop of the Diocese of Charleston.

Bishop-elect Guglielmone succeeds Bishop Robert J. Baker, who was bishop of Charleston from July 13, 1999, until Aug. 14, 2007, when he was appointed to the Diocese of Birmingham, Ala.

The Diocese of Charleston has been under the care of Diocesan Administrator Rev. Monsignor Martin T. Laughlin since Oct. 3, 2007.

"For a year and a half, we have been praying for you as we awaited the news of the appointment of a new shepherd for the Church of Charleston," Laughlin said at the news of the appointment.

"As the Good Shepherd cares for his sheep, so we know you will care for the church God has entrusted to you, laying down your life for her, so that you may offer her back to the Father more beautiful and more holy than you received her."

Guglielmone said he is "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," he said.

Guglielmone, a native of New York, obtained his degree in education and began work as a high school business teacher. After teaching for five years, he attended Immaculate Conception Seminary in Huntington, N.Y., and was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Rockville Center on April 8, 1978.

Guglielmone has served in a pastoral capacity at St. Martin of Tours, Amityville, N.Y., and at St. Frances de Chantal, Wantagh, N.Y. He also served on the faculty of Immaculate Conception Seminary as the director of pastoral formation and dean of seminarians from 1986 to 1993. From 2004 to 2007, he served as the diocesan director of clergy personnel.

Most recently, Guglielmone served as rector of St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Center.

In addition to teaching high school, Guglielmone has been involved with Boy Scouts since 1974.

He has held local, regional, national and international leadership positions in scouting, including national and world chaplain, as appointed by the Vatican.

Guglielmone will be ordained and installed as bishop of the Diocese of Charleston on March 25.
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(Source: TADC)