The Biography of Bishop-Designate Peter A. Libasci

Peter Anthony Libasci was born November 9, 1951, to
the late William and Florence Libasci in Queens, N.Y. He
attended St. Margaret School, Middle Village, N.Y., followed
by Cathedral Preparatory Seminary, Elmhurst, N.Y.

Throughout middle school, he helped clean the church
on Friday afternoons. He says this is where he began learning
about the Liturgy. He also sang for the parish choir.
Throughout high school, he was active in the parish leadership
program.

Libasci earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from
St. John’s University, Jamaica, N.Y., and a Master of Divinity
degree from St. Meinrad Seminary, St. Meinrad, Ind.
Father Libasci was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Rockville Centre on April 1, 1978 by
Bishop John R. McGann. He was first assigned to St. Raymond parish, East Rockaway, N.Y.,
and then to SS Cyril and Methodius parish, Deer Park, N.Y. In 1988, he was assigned to Our
Lady of Good Counsel parish, Inwood, N.Y., where he served for 11 years as administrator and
then pastor.

Since 1999, Father Libasci has served as pastor of St. Therese of Lisieux parish in
Montauk, N.Y.

On December 10, 2004, Father Libasci was named Honorary Prelate to His Holiness
Pope John Paul II with the title of monsignor.

On April 3, 2007, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI appointed Msgr. Libasci auxiliary
bishop of the Diocese of Rockville Centre. He was installed on June 1, 2007 at St. Agnes
Cathedral, Rockville Centre, N.Y.

During his time as an auxiliary bishop, Bishop Libasci has assisted Bishop William
Murphy in the leadership of the 1.4 million Catholics on Long Island and served as the bishop’s
representative for the Eastern Vicariate (Suffolk County).

Bishop Libasci is bi-ritual and celebrates the Divine Liturgy in the Byzantine Ruthenian
Catholic Church. Bishop Libasci has a close relationship with his brother, two sisters, nieces and
nephews.

The Bishop's First Day's Schedule with Commentary and Quotes

The Bishop's First Day's Schedule with Commentary and Quotes

10:00 a.m.

Media conference introducing Bishop Libasci
St. Joseph Cathedral rectory, 145 Lowell St., Manchester, NH

Opening remarks:

When in 2007, I was told that I was chosen to be an Auxiliary Bishop for the Diocese of Rockville Centre, I was overwhelmed at the thought that anyone knew that I even existed.

And now, four years later, I have been called, yet again, but now to be the Bishop and Shepherd of the Church, the Household of Faith in, what will be for me a new home, a new family, a new beginning in Grace.

I am coming eagerly to the Diocese of Manchester and the State of New Hampshire and I desire so much to meet all of you and to see Christ so alive and so present in you. I desire so much to share in this work that is ours: to be true to and thus carry on the mission of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

I remember well and am thankful for the words of a formula memorized so long ago: Why did God make you? God made me to know Him and to love Him and to serve Him in this world and to be happy with Him forever in the next.

The words can be memorized, but we all know that they only take on their greatest meaning and significance when they are put into practice; when they are lived: when we deepen our knowledge and understanding of the Sacred Scriptures, when Holy Eucharist becomes more and more a cause of joy, and when caring for each person’s dignity and well-being is not a labor but true compassion and care for a neighbor.

I am deeply grateful to Bishop McCormack for his years of ministry and faithful witness here in the Diocese of Manchester and his very kind welcome to me.

I am grateful to Almighty God who has brought me into being, to my parents who gave me life and to my family, friends and my Holy Catholic Church – all who have sustained me to this very hour. These include Bishop William Murphy, my diocesan bishop in Rockville Centre, my brother priests and deacons and all the lay faithful I was privileged to serve as priest and bishop in that Diocese since my priestly ordination in 1978.

I am utterly humbled and deeply grateful to Our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, who has entrusted me with this ministry. I have asked him especially for his prayers that I may fulfill the duties of this Sacred Office to which I have been called as a good shepherd, a good priest and bishop, a good steward in the Household of Faith.

And may the Lord God remember us all in His Kingdom now and forever. Amen

11:00 a.m.

Visit to Trinity High School,
581 Bridge St., Manchester, NH

- Bishop Labasci visits with Trinity High School Students. The Students present the Bishop with a THS sweatshirt which he promptly puts on, ditching his suit jacket. Trinity student gave the Bishop a enthusiastic welcome with several standing ovations, a choral welcome and a tour of the school, with special stops in the St. Basil Chapel and visited one on one with student's in the School's Campus Ministry Center. The word from Trinity is that he was a big hit with the kids and the teachers. They described Bishop Labasci as "warm, friendly, personable and real."

Bishop Labasci's decision to make his first official stop a Catholic school, speaks volumes. Emphasizing schools is a testament to his strong interest in education and evangelization. It is also nice to know that he supported a parish school at his last assignment, a sign that he knows the value of our schools and the many challenges they face. + 1 for the Youth of our Diocese.


Visit to New Hampshire Food Bank
700 East Industrial Park Drive, Manchester, NH

A clear sign of the importance of Social Justice and outreach to the poor and disenfranchised.



1:15 p.m.

Sisters Adorers of the Precious Blood
700 Bridge Street, Manchester, NH

Sorry no word from the cloistered sisters. However, I am heartened to know that these holy women who pray for all of us everyday where given a place of privilge in this first day.

4:00 p.m.

Prayer service with priests at Cathedral Chapel
St. Joseph Cathedral Chapel, 145 Lowell St., Manchester, NH

- Following evening prayer with the priests the Bishop met each priest in attendance and spent time talking with each. The universal reaction is overwhelmingly positive and the guys seem excited for the future.


-Not officially listed javascript:void(0)on the schedule is a stop of at St. Anselm Abbey for dinner. My sources tell me that Bishop Labasci continued to impress everywhere he went. His evening with the monks was a homerun, much as was his day.


Somewhere after this the Bishop retired for a well deserved night of rest. A New Day begins tomorrow, stay tuned......

What we know

What we have learned about the new Bishop today ( a special shout out to Sarah Jane von Haack over at Parable Magazine):

- He speaks Spanish, French, Slovakian & Italian

- According to Parable magazine editor Sarah Jane von Haack, the new Bishop said that he will "pray his brains out" in order to prepare for his new role.

- He is of Slovakian, Sicilian & British Ancestry

- His favorite dessert is Blueberry pie a la mode

- He said to the Trinity High School Community
"We are ready to our part to build the Church"

- His motto will be "Arise and Walk"

- He said the most important way to approach ministry is with compassion

- He was born in Queens (less hope he is not a Yankees Fan!)

- He is beloved in Rockville Center and they are mourning their loss

- He regularly visited the Seminary there, and is well known and regarded by the guys there, including those from other dioceses

Some More Photos- UPDATES TO CONTINUE!!!!!!!!!!

the Latest Pictures of the new Bishop at Trinity High School

Update #2

Like any dutiful seminarian I have been spending much of my time this morning trying to learn a little about our New Bishop. I began early this morning by reading the press releases which all spoke of Bishop Libasci as being a “gentle pastor” with a big heart, a man dedicated to pastoring his flock with gentleness. Bishop Libasci has spent most of his as a parish priest in the trenches.

Eventually I came across a beautiful article, written a few years ago by of all places the New York Times, praising the work of then Msgr. Libasci. Libasci was the pastor of a small, parish hopeless divided over a construction project that became helplessly mired. Libasci was able to rally the people, build consensus and lead a parish from worshiping in the basement of the parish school to build a new church. Before arriving the parish church had been condemned and the parish was forced to gather each week for fifteen years in the basement of the school. Central to Libasci’s response to this inherited challenge was the aim of uniting the people, rallying them around a hope filled plan for the future and an insistence on incorporating as much of the old church as possible. The people united behind his leadership and they enthusiastically embraced the 3.5 million dollar building plan. Soon after they faced a major disaster when the new foundation failed and needed to be rebuilt, to the tune of an additional two million dollars. Libasci persisted and led the small parish of 600 to build their new Church, become united in faith, and together they rebuilt their parish literally from the foundation up. What a beautiful image and what a hope filled understanding of our faith.

However, the most beautiful story of Peter Libasci the man, pastor and bishop is one that you will not find in any newspaper or press release. It is one I stumbled upon on in a small blog maintained by a New York family, for their closest family and friends. On it a woman shares a beautiful encounter she had with Bishop Libasci at a very painful time in her life. She writes:

I wanted to share something that happened at Ryan's wake last night.

(Ryan had tragically died on a father/son camping trip_

I looked up at the doorway and saw our newest bishop on Long Island, Bishop Peter Libasci walking in. Now, by marriage, Mary Ellen is related to a pretty high ranking monsignor in our diocese, so I figured he must have called for the Bishop to pay a visit. I went over to greet the Bishop, since I felt somewhat of a connection... as a young priest he was assigned to the parish I grew up in and his first funeral there was my mother's. He also confirmed my niece, while still a priest, with a special dispensation. Last year, this time as a bishop, he confirmed my daughter with this same niece as a sponsor. Full circle!

The Bishop spent quite a lot of time with the Barretts and at the end of the evening, after he had left, I spoke with the Monsignor and thanked him for arranging this visit. He looked at me puzzled and said "I had nothing to do with that. The Bishop said he had read in the paper that Ryan had wanted to be a priest. All priests are entitled to a visit from the Bishop at their wake!"

When I met Bishop Libasci at the door he said to me "I just had to come and see the little priest."

What else is there to say but welcome home Pastor and Bishop. We have been praying for you and we look with joy to the future we will share together.

Welcome Bishop Libasci!

Word is that the formal announcement at ten am today will be to announce that Manchester's tenth bishop will be Bishop Peter Libasci of Rockville Center, NY. Before being an auxilary bishop for Rockville Centre, Libasci, a native of Queens, spent his entire priestly ministry working in the area of pastoral work, particularly in the area of Catechesis. According to prominent Catholic blogger Rocco Palmo, Libasci will be installed on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, December 8th.


I will keep you posted.......


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Update:


Follow this link to a great New York times on then Father Libasci, who was a huge consensus builder and described as "a breath of fresh air."