Gerald Barbarito

infobox bishopbiog
name = Bishop Gerald Barbarito


religion = Catholic Church
See = Palm Beach
Title = Bishop of Palm Beach
Period = July 1, 2003—Present
consecration = August 22, 1994
Predecessor = Seán Patrick O'Malley
Successor = incumbent
ordination = January 31, 1976
bishops = Titular Bishop of Gisipa
Bishop of Ogdensburg
date of birth = Birth date and age|1950|1|4|mf=y
place of birth = Brooklyn, New York|

Gerald Michael Barbarito is the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Palm Beach. He was appointed on July 1, 2003 and was later installed as the fifth Bishop of Palm Beach on August 28, 2003.

Early life and family

Bishop Gerald Michael Barbarito, the son of Anna Marie LaPorte Barbarito and the late Samuel A. Barbarito, was born in Brooklyn, January 4, 1950. He began his studies for the priesthood at Cathedral Prep Seminary in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, graduating in 1967.

Education

He continued his studies at Cathedral College in Douglaston, Queens, where he earned a Bachelor's degree in 1971. His theology studies took place at Immaculate Conception Seminary in Huntington, New York, where upon completing his work in 1975, he received a Master of Divinity degree.

Before being ordained to the priesthood, Bishop Barbarito served as a deacon at St. Francis of Assisi Church, Astoria, Queens, for one year.

Ordination and pastoral work

Gerald Barbarito was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Francis J. Mugavero at St. Francis of Assisi Church, Astoria, on January 31, 1976. After his ordination, he was assigned to St. Helen's Church in Howard Beach, Queens. He remained there until 1981, when Bishop Mugavero appointed him Assistant Chancellor. He held this position for one year and was then sent to the Catholic University of America in Washington for two years, where he earned a Licentiate in Canon Law.

Barbarito was named the Vice Chancellor of the Diocese of Brooklyn in 1984, and he remained in that position until 1992, when Bishop Thomas V. Daily, Bishop of Brooklyn, appointed him secretary. He served as master of ceremonies for Auxiliary Bishop Joseph P. Denning from 1984 to 1990.

Bishop Barbarito has served on the College of Consultors, the Priests' Personnel Board, the Presbyteral Council and as an appellate judge at the diocesan tribunal. He has also served as a consultant to the Canonical Affairs Committee of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops. He is a member of the Catholic Biblical Association and the Canon Law Society of America.

Episcopacy

Bishop Barbarito was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Brooklyn by Pope John Paul II on June 28, 1994. He was consecrated on August 22, 1994. Bishop Thomas V. Daily served as Principal Consecrator with Bishop Joseph M. Sullivan and Bishop René A. Valero serving as Principal Co-Consecrators.

Bishop Barbarito was assigned as Regional Bishop for Brooklyn Vicariate East as well as Vicar for Ministry for the Diocese of Brooklyn. As Vicar for Ministry, he assisted with the ongoing formation of priests in the diocese. His office was in the Marine Park section of Brooklyn.

On October 26, 1999, Pope John-Paul II appointed Barbarito Bishop of Ogdensburg, New York. He filled the vacancy left when Bishop Paul Loverde was appointed the Bishop of Arlington, Virginia nine months prior.

On July 1, 2003, Bishop Barbarito was appointed to succeed then-Bishop Seán Patrick O'Malley who, on the very same day, was appointed as the ninth Archbishop of Boston. He was later installed as the fifth Bishop of Palm Beach on August 28, 2003 at the Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola.

ources

*http://www.diocesepb.org/bishop/index.htm
*http://www.diocesepb.org/