USCCB - (Office of Media Relations) - Pope Accepts Bishop Wcela's Resignation, Monsignor Libasci Named Auxiliary Bishop of Rockville Centre

Pope Accepts Bishop Wcela's Resignation, Monsignor Libasci Named Auxiliary Bishop of Rockville Centre

WASHINGTON (April 3, 2007)—Pope Benedict XVI accepted the resignation of Most Reverend Emil A. Wcela from the office of Auxiliary Bishop of Rockville Centre. At the same time the Pope appointed Monsignor Peter A. Libasci, pastor of St. Therese of Lisieux parish in Montauk, New York, as Auxiliary Bishop of Rockville Centre and Titular Bishop of Satafis.

Archbishop Pietro Sambi, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, made the announcements.

Msgr. Libasci was born November 9, 1951, in Jackson Heights, Brooklyn.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy at St. John's University, Queens, New York and a Masters in Divinity at St. Meinrad's Archabbey Seminary, Indiana.

Msgr. Libasci was ordained for the Diocese of Rockville Centre, April 1, 1978.

After ordination, he received a Masters in Theology and Catechetics from St. John's University.

Msgr. Libasci was Parochial Vicar, St. Raymond parish, East Rockaway, NY, 1978-1982, Parochial Vicar, Saints Cyril and Methodius Parish, Deer Park, 1982-1988, Administrator, Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, Inwood, 1989-1999, and pastor, 1999-2000.

He was named Pastor of St. Therese of Lisieux Parish, Montauk, in 2000.

Msgr. Libasci is fluent in Spanish, with some knowledge of Italian and Slovak.

Emil A. Wcela was born May 1, 1931, in Bohemia, NY. He earned an M.A. at the Catholic University of America, Washington, DC, and an M.A. at Fordham University, New York, both in 1963, an S.T.L. at Catholic University in 1962, and an S.S.L. at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in 1965.

Bishop Wcela studied at Immaculate Conception Seminary, Huntington, NY, and was ordained a priest (Brooklyn, after 1957, Rockville Centre) June 2, 1956.

He was appointed titular bishop of Filaca and auxiliary bishop of Rockville Centre, October 21, 1988.