His Excellency, The Most Reverend

Peter Anthony Libasci
Bishop of Manchester
DioceseDiocese of Manchester
AppointedSeptember 19, 2011
InstalledDecember 8, 2011
PredecessorJohn Brendan McCormack
Orders
OrdinationApril 1, 1978
by John R. McGann
ConsecrationJune 1, 2007
by William Murphy, Emil Aloysius Wcela, Paul Henry Walsh and John Charles Dunne
Personal details
Born (1951-11-09) November 9, 1951
Jackson Heights, Queens, New York, US
Previous post(s)
EducationSt. John's University
Saint Meinrad School of Theology
MottoArise and walk
Styles of
Peter Anthony Libasci
Reference style
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleBishop

Peter Anthony Libasci (born November 9, 1951) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who has been serving as bishop of the Diocese of Manchester in New Hampshire since 2011. Libasci previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Rockville Centre in New York from 2007 to 2011.

Libasci is a bi-ritual priest, allowed to celebrate the Divine Liturgy and administer the sacraments in both the Latin Church and the Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church.[1]

Biography

Early life and education

Peter A. Libasci was born on November 9. 1951, in Jackson Heights, Queens, New York. Libasci is of Italian (Sicilian) heritage on his paternal side and of Slovak heritage on his maternal side.[2] He attended St. Margaret School in Middle Village, New York, followed by Cathedral Preparatory Seminary in Elmhurst, Queens. Libasci obtained a Bachelor of Philosophy degree from St. John's University in Queens and a Master of Divinity degree from Saint Meinrad School of Theology in Saint Meinrad, Indiana. After his ordination, Libasci received a Master of Theology-Catechetical Ministry degree from St. John's.[3]

Ordination and ministry

On April 1, 1978, Libasci was ordained a priest by Bishop John Raymond McGann for the Diocese of Rockville Centre. After his ordination, he had the following parish assignments in New York

  • Parochial vicar at Saint Raymond's in East Rockaway (1978–1982),
  • Parochial vicar at Saints Cyril and Methodius in Deer Park (1982–1988);
  • Parish administrator and then pastor at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Inwood (1988–2000)
  • Pastor at Saint Therese of Lisieux in Montauk (2000 - 2007)

On December 10, 2004, Libasci was named honorary prelate by Pope John Paul II with the title of monsignor.

Auxiliary Bishop of Rockville Centre

Libasci was named titular bishop of Satafis and auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, on April 3, 2007, by Pope Benedict XVI. He received his episcopal consecration on June 1, 2007, from Bishop William Murphy, with auxiliary bishops Emil Wcela, Paul Walsh and John Dunne serving as co-consecrators.[4]

As auxiliary bishop, Libasci was episcopal vicar for the Vicariate East (Suffolk County), of the diocese. He also celebrated the liturgy for the Ruthenian Catholic community, which celebrates liturgy in the Byzantine rite.[1]

Bishop of Manchester

On September 19, 2011, Benedict XVI named Libasci as the tenth bishop of the Diocese of Manchester.[5] He was installed on December 8, 2011.

On July 22, 2021, Libasci was named in a lawsuit accusing him of child molestation between 1983 and 1984 when he was parochial vicar at Saints Cyril and Methodius Parish School in New York.[6] The accuser, then 12 or 13 years old, said that Libasci fondled his genitals on "numerous occasions", including one instance when the boy was setting up the altar for mass.[7] The lawsuit also named the Sisters of St. Joseph, the religious order running the school at the time, of neglecting to prevent the abuse.[8] Libasci denied the accusations.[9] On August 29, 2021, the Archdiocese of Boston announced a formal investigation into the accusations.[10] As of February 2023, the investigation is still ongoing.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "New bishop is 'bi-ritual', a rare practice in church". Archived from the original on 21 August 2017. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  2. ↑ "The Most Reverend Peter A. Libasci". Archived from the original on 31 December 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  3. ↑ "Bishop Peter A. Libasci Biography". Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  4. ↑ "Bishop Peter Anthony Libasci (Catholic Hierarchy)". Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  5. ↑ "RINUNCIA DEL VESCOVO DI MANCHESTER (U.S.A.) E NOMINA DEL SUCCESSORE". Archived from the original on 16 July 2012. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  6. ↑ Downey, K. C. (2021-07-22). "Bishop of Diocese of Manchester accused in lawsuit of sexually abusing minor". WMUR. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
  7. ↑ Crompton, Jennifer (2021-07-24). "Diocese of Manchester bishop accused in lawsuit of sexually abusing minor". WMUR. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
  8. ↑ McKeown, Jonah (July 23, 2021). "Lawsuit brings sex abuse allegations against New Hampshire bishop". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  9. ↑ Callery, Tim (2021-07-24). "Manchester Bishop Libasci 'categorically denies' sex abuse accusations, attorney says". WMUR. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
  10. ↑ "Church investigation into Libasci allegations underway". www.yahoo.com. 29 August 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-15.

Episcopal succession

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