USCCB - (Office of Media Relations) - Pope Accepts Three Resignations, Appoints Three Auxiliary Bishops in New York

Pope Accepts Three Resignations, Appoints Three Auxiliary Bishops in New York

WASHINGTON (October 29, 2001) -- Pope John Paul II appointed three New York priests to be auxiliary bishops of the Archdiocese of New York while accepting the resignations of three other auxiliary bishops.

Appointed Auxiliary Bishops of New York were Monsignor Robert Josu Iriondo, pastor of St. Anthony of Padua parish in the Bronx and archdiocesan Vicar for Hispanics, who was named Titular Bishop of Alton, Monsignor Dominick J. Lagonegro, pastor, St. Columba parish, Hopewell Junction, New York, appointed Titular Bishop of Modrus, and Msgr. Timothy A. McDonnell, pastor of St. John and St. Mary parish, Chappaqua, named Titular Bishop of Semina.

The Holy Father accepted the resignations of Auxiliary Bishops Anthony F. Mestice, Francisco Garmendia, and William J. McCormack. Bishop Mestice has served as Auxiliary Bishop of New York since 1973, Bishop Garmendia since 1977, and Bishop McCormack since 1986.

Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, made the announcements.

Robert Josu Iriondo was born on December 19, 1938, in Legazti, Spain. He studied at the Christian Brothers elementary school in Legazti, Sagrado Corazon Seminary, Onati, Spain, and at the Collegio San Vittore and Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, from 1958 to 1962.

He was ordained on December 22, 1962, in San Sebastian, Spain, for the Canons Regular of the Lateran. He was incardinated into the Archdiocese of New York in 1996.

Msgr. Iriondo served at Notre Dame parish, New York City, and at St. Joseph parish, Middletown, New York, in 1969, and at St. Lucy parish in the Bronx in 1973. He was named pastor of Our Savior parish in the Bronx in 1984.

Bishop-elect Iriondo was appointed director, Hispanic Catholic Center and Charismatic Renewal Movement in 1990. He was named Vicar for Hispanics of the Archdiocese of New York in 1997 and pastor of St. Anthony of Padua parish in 2001.

Dominick J. Lagonegro was born in White Plains, New York, March 6, 1943. He studied at Cathedral Preparatory Seminary, New York, Cathedral College, Douglaston, and St. Joseph Seminary, Yonkers.

Bishop-elect Lagonegro was ordained a priest in St. Patrick's Cathedral on May 31, 1969.

Since ordination, he has held pastoral assignments in Mamaroneck, Kingston, and Poughkeepsie, New York. He was named pastor of St. Columba in Hopewell Junction in 1993 and appointed Vicar for the Vicariate of Dutchess County in 1997.

Timothy A. McDonnell was born in New York City on December 23, 1937. He studied at Cathedral Preparatory Seminary, St. Joseph Seminary in Yonkers, and Iona College, New Rochelle, where he earned a degree in pastoral counseling.

He was ordained in St. Patrick's Cathedral on June 1, 1963.

Bishop-elect McDonnell held pastoral assignments, was assistant director of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, and archdiocesan director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith. He was Vice-Chancellor and Chairman of the archdiocesan building commission, 1980, pastor of Holy Trinity parish, New York City, 1984, Chief Operating Officer of Catholic Charities and Deputy President of Covenant House, 1990. He was named pastor of St. John and St. Mary parish, Chappaqua, New York, in 1993.

Anthony F. Mestice was born December 6, 1923, in New York City. He attended St. Joseph's Seminary, Yonkers, and was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of New York, June 4, 1949. He was appointed Titular Bishop of Villa Nova and auxiliary bishop of New York, March 5, 1973.

Francisco Garmendia was born November 6, 1924, in Lazcano, Spain. Ordained to the priesthood June 29, 1947, he was named Titular Bishop of Limisa and auxiliary bishop of New York, May 24, 1977.

William J. McCormack was born in New York City on January 24, 1924. He studied at St. Bonaventure and at Christ the King Seminary in Aurora, New York, and was ordained a priest of the New York archdiocese, February 21, 1959. He was appointed National Director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith in 1980. He was appointed Titular Bishop of Nicives and auxiliary bishop of New York on December 18, 1986.