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Biography of Bishop William E. Lori
Click here to download a copy of Bishop Lori's biography in Microsoft Word format.
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1951: Born on May 6 in Louisville, KY, the second of three sons to Margaret and Francis Lori.
1973: Earns a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Seminary of Saint Pius X in Erlanger, KY. Enters major seminary, Mount Saint Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, MD, to study for the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Washington.
1977: Earns a Master of Arts degree from Mount Saint Mary's Seminary. On May 14, he is ordained to the priesthood by William Cardinal Baum in Saint Matthew's Cathedral in Washington, D.C. His first assignment is as Associate Pastor of Saint Joseph Parish in Landover, MD.
1982: Earns a Doctorate in Sacred Theology (S.T.D) from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Named Director of the Archdiocese of Washington's Commission of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, and Theological Advisor to His Eminence, James Cardinal Hickey, Archbishop of Washington.
1983: Named Secretary and Theologian to Cardinal Hickey, a position he holds until 1994.
1993: Named a member of the Board of Governors of the Maryland Catholic Conference, the public policy arm of Maryland's Catholic bishops, and the District of Columbia Catholic Conference.
1994: Appointed Chancellor, Vicar General, and Moderator of the Curia for the Archdiocese of Washington.
1995: Ordained to the Episcopate as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Washington and Titular Bishop of Bulla, on April 20 in Saint Matthew's Cathedral.
2001: On January 23, appointed the Fourth Bishop of Bridgeport, succeeding His Eminence, Edward Cardinal Egan, Archbishop of New York. On March 19, the Feast of Saint Joseph, installed as Bishop of Bridgeport at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield.
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Some Highlights of Bishop William E. Lori
as Bishop of Bridgeport
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July 2, 2001: Welcomes Sister Mary Nirmala, M.C. (right), superior general of the Missionaries of Charity, to Bridgeport for the opening of the Sisters' first convent in Connecticut.
August 25, 2001: With Mass at Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Bridgeport, fulfills his pledge to visit every parish in the Diocese of Bridgeport.
September 11, 2001: Under tragic circumstances, celebrates Masses in Bridgeport and Stamford for the memory of those killed in the terrorist attacks.
January 5, 2002: Gathers with 100 pro-life supporters outside the abortion clinic in downtown Bridgeport to proclaim his commitment to life by leading a Rosary for the salvation of the unborn.
February 18, 2002: Accompanied by members of the Order of Malta, visits Haiti to witness first-hand work to support young people and families.
May 3, 2002: In recognition of his role as an emerging leader on the Church's response to sexual misconduct, is appointed to the Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Abuse of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Instrumental in drafting the landmark "Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People," approved by the U.S. Bishops in Dallas, TX, on June 14.
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July 22-28, 2002: Joins 110 pilgrims from the Diocese of Bridgeport (left) in Toronto, Canada, for World Youth Day with Pope John Paul II.
September 23-25, 2002: Gathers with priests of the Diocese of Bridgeport for Convocation 2002, an extraordinary opportunity for prayer, reflection, and renewal.
October 1, 2002: President George W. Bush names Bishop Lori to the President's Committee on Mental Retardation.
November 2002: As one of four U.S. bishops on a special Mixed Commission, Bishop Lori journeyed to the Vatican to revise the "Essential Norms" of the Charter, which has now become particular law for the Catholic Church in the United States to ensure that no one who works for the Catholic Church will ever pose a threat of any kind to any person, young or old.
January 2003: Ordains the first two of a total eight men to the priesthood for the year, signaling a successful vocations effort.
May 2003: A new Pastoral Council meets for the first time, to represent the many diverse groups in the Diocese and advise the Bishop on pastoral matters.
June 2003: An independent auditing firm found the Diocese to be in "total compliance" with the Dallas "Charter," and in many cases, exceeded the "Charter" requirements. In July, a dedicated Office of Safe Environments opens in the Diocese. A second independent audit in September 2004 also found the Diocese in full compliance.
September 28, 2003: More than 8,000 people filled Harbor Yard Arena in Bridgeport for Mass in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the founding of the Diocese of Bridgeport. Other Jubilee observances included a special Jubilee lecture series, Eucharistic Adoration at all 87 parishes, and the launch of a Jubilee Habitat for Humanity House in Bridgeport.
February 15, 2004: The Diocese of Bridgeport released details of a 50-year analysis of the role of those clergy who were involved in the abuse crisis. The data showed a very small number of clergy were involved in this issue.
February 22, 2004: Launches a new frontier in Diocesan communications, a weekly live radio program, "Sunday with the Bishop," every Sunday at 6 p.m. on WICC, 600-AM.
March 20-21, 2004: "Human Love in the Divine Plan: Pope John Paul II's 'Theology of the Body,'" was the focus of a major conference sponsored by the Diocese of Bridgeport at Sacred Heart University.
June 12, 2004: As the struggle in Iraq grew ever more bitter and tangled, Bishop Lori requested that every parish in the Diocese of Bridgeport observe a Eucharistic Vigil for Peace on the vigil of the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi). The Holy Hour followed the normal Sunday vigil Mass in every parish.
Also on June 12, surrounded by volunteers and well-wishers, Bishop Lori blessed and dedicated "Jubilee House," a Habitat for Humanity project undertaken as part of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Diocese of Bridgeport at 573 Ogden Street on the East Side of Bridgeport.
September 2004: The 2004 Annual Bishop's Appeal concludes, setting an all-time record of $8.2 million for the primary fundraiser for the ministries and programs of the Catholic Church in Fairfield County.
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October 12, 2004: More than 750 people, including parents, teachers, and concerned Catholics, gathered at Fairfield University for "Our Children, Our Future: A Renewed Commitment to Catholic Education in Fairfield County," a special evening (left) which explored changes in the governance, funding, and curricula for the existing 39 Catholic Schools run by the Diocese of Bridgeport. The Diocese is committed to not only keeping these schools open and flourishing, but to enhancing their currently high levels of academic achievement and faith-based education, and making the dream of Catholic education a reality for every child.
October 20, 2004: Bishop Lori blessed and dedicated "Villa Maria Guadalupe" on the grounds of the former Villa Maria Retreat Center in Stamford. The property was purchased by the Knights of Columbus, who invited the Sisters of Life, a religious community dedicated to protecting and advancing a sense of the sacredness of all human life, to offer retreats for families and married couples, for women facing problem pregnancies, for pro-life leaders, and for Knights and their families.
November 28, 2004: Starting on the First Sunday of Advent, and running through October 2005, parishes are invited by Bishop Lori to mark Pope John Paul II's "Year of the Eucharist" by hosting Holy Hours of Eucharistic Adoration, with a special intention for increased vocations to the priesthood and the religious life.
January 8-9, 2005: A special collection in all 87 parishes raises nearly $800,000 for the victims of the December 26, 2004, tsunami disaster in Southern Asia and Eastern Africa.
January 15-16, 2005: The Roman Catholic Bishops of Connecticut, including Bishop Lori, invite all Catholics throughout the state to take a stand against the death penalty by signing a petition, to be presented to Governor M. Jodi Rell and the Connecticut State Assembly.
March 2005: The 2005 Annual Bishop's Appeal, "Sharing God's Gifts," opens, with a goal of $10 million (the largest ever) and a special commitment to Catholic Charities and Catholic Education.
April 2, 2005: With the death of the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, the Diocese of Bridgeport joins the Universal Church in observing the novendiali, nine days of mourning.
April 18, 2005: Bishop Lori is elected Supreme Chaplain of the Knights of Columbus.
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Accomplishments and Challenges
Looking Back at Bishop Lori's Eventful First Year as Bishop of Bridgeport
Published in Fairfield County Catholic, April, 2002
Written by Vanessa Anderson
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When the Most Reverend William Edward Lori, S.T.D., Auxiliary Bishop of Washington, D.C., and Titular Bishop of Bulla, was installed as the Fourth Bishop of the Diocese of Bridgeport on March 19, 2001, no one could have predicted how warm a welcome he would receive throughout Fairfield County. Nor could anyone have imagined the accomplishments and challenges of his first year in office.
To mark Bishop Lori’s first anniversary, Fairfield County Catholic takes a nostalgic look back at some of the highlights of the past 12 months.
March 2001
On March 19, the Feast of Saint Joseph, Bishop Lori is installed as Bishop of Bridgeport (right) at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield. (Photo by John Glover)
March 19, 2001 marked a pivotal day in the history of the Diocese of Bridgeport. Nearly 4,000 guests from all corners of Fairfield County, and hundreds of visitors from Washington D.C., Indiana, and further afield, gathered in William Pitt Center on the campus of Sacred Heart University to celebrate the installation of Bishop Lori.
“I am truly happy to begin my service as Fourth Bishop of Bridgeport on the Feast of Saint Joseph,” Bishop Lori said in his homily. “I am relying on the prayers of Saint Joseph, who believed and trusted in God so deeply and who took such good care of his family. Trusting in God, may I also take good care of the family of faith entrusted to me!”
In a gesture of his commitment to his new diocese, Bishop Lori made a vow to visit all 87 parishes. Msgr. Richard Shea, pastor of Saint Catherine Parish in Trumbull, thought Bishop Lori’s statement was extremely ambitious and powerful. Two days after the bishop’s installation, Msgr. Shea welcomed Bishop Lori and his visiting parents warmly to his parish.
“We felt very honored to be the first,” Msgr. Shea says. “The bishop and his parents were so friendly, open and loving,” he recalls. “The parishioners were very comfortable with the bishop’s presence because he was open and available and wanted to meet everyone.”
April 2001
Holy Week and Easter offered Bishop Lori an ideal opportunity to begin his pastoral ministry. Joined by 300 priests, and many more deacons, seminarians, and lay people from around the diocese, Bishop Lori celebrated the annual Chrism Mass, blessing the three sacred oils to be used during the upcoming year. With his words echoing among the marble arches of Saint Patrick Church in Bridgeport, the bishop inspired his priests to be his “co-workers in the Lord, called to concern for the world.”
Father Nicholas Pavia, parochial vicar of Saint Stephen Parish in Trumbull, felt a strong bond with his new bishop and fellow clergy at the Chrism Mass. “After Mass, we went to Saint Francis of Assisi Parish in Weston for a reception,” Father Pavia remembers. “I was really struck by the bishop’s humanity. He has an incredible personal tone with a sense of humor. Yet he is bishop, and he encompasses all the dignity of that office with his humility and work ethic.”
"You will respond in love to the Lord by the witness of your lives," Bishop Lori told Father F. John Ringley, Jr. and Father Thomas N. Haber the day of their ordination. The two young priests were the first Bishop Lori ordained in his new diocese. (Photo by John Glover)
May 2001
Bishop Lori urged an assembly of judges, lawyers, and other members of the legal community to put their faith into practice at a Red Mass on May 10 at Saint Mary Parish in Greenwich. He challenged those gathered to lead virtuous lives, perform their jobs with integrity and respect for the human person. “Your work profoundly affects the common good of society and indeed the overall health or decline of our culture,” he said.
Later that month, on May 19 at Saint Theresa Parish, Trumbull, Bishop Lori ordained his first priests as Bishop of Bridgeport: Father F. John Ringley, Jr., and Father Thomas N. Haber. “You will respond in love to the Lord by the witness of your lives,” he told the two young men in his homily.
Father Haber, now parochial vicar at Saint Peter Parish in Danbury, says that the happiness and excitement of his ordination day was only the beginning of the joy he feels every day, and that Bishop Lori’s support of his vocation continues.
“Bishop Lori met with Father Ringley and myself about six months after our ordination,” Father Haber recalls. “He was interested in what we were doing and wanted to know how he could help us in any way. It is very clear that he is a pastoral bishop.”
Not long afterward, Bishop Lori was faced with the first great challenge in the diocese: Father John Castaldo, spiritual director at Trinity Catholic High School in Stamford, was arrested and charged with dissemination of indecent material to a minor over the Internet.
Bishop Lori’s swift response to the situation won praise within the diocese and in the media. In accordance with the diocesan sexual misconduct policy, Father Castaldo was immediately removed and suspended, and counselors were dispatched to Trinity Catholic to be available to students, faculty, and parents.
On May 29, Bishop Lori celebrated the Baccalaureate Mass for seniors at Saint Mary Parish in Stamford and spoke to the assembled press afterwards.
“My desire this night first and foremost is simply to be with you – as a pastor, a shepherd – to serve you in love,” Bishop Lori said in his homily. “I wanted to be present to you tonight to pray with you, to encourage you, to share your joy but also to share your sorrow. I also want to come before you to assure you of my deep concern, to offer you my sincerest apologies, and to express my bedrock commitment to respond to this situation as openly and fairly as I can, aided, of course, by your prayers and support. Among other things, I want to emphasize the desire of the Church to listen to you and to receive any information you may have, no matter how unsettling it may be."
Bishop Lori visits with a member of the New Heights center in Danbury last Christmas. Bishop Lori has visited all of Catholic Charities’ programs around the diocese during his first year as Bishop of Bridgeport. (Photo by John Glover)
June 2001
Accompanied by Brian Cronin, executive director of Catholic Charities, Bishop Lori embarked on a whistle-stop tour of every Catholic Charities location in Fairfield County on June 8. He visited soup kitchens, a homeless shelter, counseling offices, a day care facility, and many other places that serve the poor and disadvantaged.
"It was a rigorous day," Cronin remembers. "We have 35 programs in 16 venues, and we visited them all, starting at 8:30 a.m. and not stopping until evening. It's important to say that the bishop not only visited the programs, but he made a point to get involved with the clients. His message was that he plans to invest in the work of Catholic Charities. That is a message that the workers of Catholic Charities, who view their work as a vocation, needed to hear."
July 2001
Bishop Lori welcomed Sister Mary Nirmala, M.C., superior general of the Missionaries of Charity, to Bridgeport on July 2 during Mass at Saint Peter Parish. Sister Nirmala's visit coincided with the opening of a convent for the Missionaries of Charity, their first in Connecticut and the fulfillment of a pledge made by Bishop Lori at his installation. Four Sisters are in residence.
Bishop Lori continues his support of the Missionaries of Charity, according to Msgr. Aniceto Villamide, pastor of Saint Peter's. "He sees the sisters regularly and says Mass for them," he says. "The bishop also attends adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in their chapel, praying to build a culture of life."
Receiving flowers from a youngster of Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Bridgeport, Bishop Lori completed his pilgrimage to visit all 87 parishes in the diocese on August 25. "It is a joy to be with the people whom I have been sent to serve," he says. (Photo by John Glover)
August 2001
With Mass on August 25 at Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Bridgeport, Bishop Lori fulfilled his promise to visit every parish in the diocese of Bridgeport. The tour that had taken him five months and six days to complete brought the bishop to every corner of Fairfield County.
"These visits are only the initial phase of a continuous journey of faith that will bring me back to my parishes again and again in the years ahead," the bishop said. He repeated two appeals which he had made in every parish he visited. He asked all the parishes to pray for vocations, and he asked them to pray for him, "That I may be a good man, a wise priest, and a loving and holy bishop."
Praying with fellow religious leaders from the Bridgeport area at an Interfaith Prayer Service in Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Bishop Lori leads the faithful during the aftermath of the September 11th terrorist attacks. Many people from the Diocese of Bridgeport were among those lost in the World Trade Center disaster. (Photo by John Glover)
September 2001
Under tragic circumstances, Bishop Lori continued to display his loving pastoral care for the People of God in Fairfield County in the aftermath of the tragic terrorist attacks on September 11. At Noon, he celebrated Mass at Saint Augustine Cathedral, which was filled to overflowing.
"To be sure, it will take a very long time for us to comprehend the dimensions of this tragedy," he said in his homily. "We will mourn, we will question, we may wonder why it is that God would allow human beings to makes such horrible choices. We may wonder why God would grant such freedom to very flawed human beings."
"The immediate response of the bishop was absolutely appropriate," recalls Betty Anne Cassaretti, diocesan director of Charismatic Renewal. "Organizing the Mass was a powerful statement. With his presence, he said, 'I am in the middle of this with all of you.' I felt as though he was embracing the entire diocese, saying, 'We're going to get through this together.'"
Amid calls of support to the families of victims in Fairfield County, Bishop Lori celebrated Memorial Masses in Stamford, Greenwich, Fairfield, and other cities.
Bishop Lori walked with the nearly 1,800 Catholic school students and parents from the Diocese of Bridgeport at the annual Walkathon for Catholic Schools on October 21. Catholic schools and religious education have emerged as priorities for our new bishop. (Photo by John Glover)
October 2001
The annual Mass for Life, celebrated at Saint Stephen Parish in Trumbull October 7, was especially poignant as the faithful were still struggling to comprehend the terrorist attacks of four weeks earlier. Ironically, as the bishop spoke, the United States launched its bombing of Afghanistan.
"We find ourselves as citizens of a nation fighting to preserve what is best in our way of life, fighting to protect the innocent from violence," Bishop Lori said in his homily.
Megan Spillane, a senior at Trinity Catholic High School in Stamford, spoke at Mass and was comforted by the bishop's words. "He found a way to touch on the fighting and turn it around to talk about the unseen horror of abortion that happens every day," she recalls.
November 2001
The bishop celebrated All Saints Day on November 1 with the students and faculty at All Saint Regional Elementary School in Norwalk. On his first visit to the school, Bishop Lori celebrated Mass and visited classrooms.
"Bishop Lori interacted with the students in such a warm, friendly way that they readily responded to him," says Sister Catherine Sheehy, R.S.M. "The kids now feel as if they know him. He's our bishop now."
December 2001
Seminarians Hernan Bohorquez, Robert Boyd, David Daigle, and Peter Smolik were ordained to the transitional deaconate by Bishop Lori on December 1. The seminarians took their next step on their vocational journey with Bishop Lori during Mass at Saint Augustine Cathedral.
"You will be transformed in the very depth of your being to resemble Christ, the servant," Bishop Lori said in his homily. "God the Father, in the power of the Holy Spirit, will indeed place His words in your hearts. He will refashion your hearts, already made new in the waters of baptism, after the image of His own son, the Eternal Word made flesh."
"Bishop Lori's words were filled not only with theological truths but also with the conviction of a person who has a close relationship with God," remembers Deacon Bohorquez. "When I heard him talking, I thought I was not worthy to receive that amazing grace of God, but at the same time I was very thankful to God who chose to give me all these blessings."
Deacon Bohorquez was also touched by the bishop's gesture to the Hispanic community. "It took me by surprise when Bishop Lori started to speak Spanish during the homily," he says. "My family and friends were grateful to him for being so thoughtful in acknowledging their presence by addressing them in Spanish."
January 2002
Gathering with nearly 100 pro-life supporters outside the Summit Women's Center in downtown Bridgeport on a cold winter's morning, Bishop Lori proclaimed his commitment to life by leading a Rosary for the salvation of the unborn. The prayer vigil took place after the bishop celebrated a special pro-life Mass at Saint Peter Parish.
"It is time for everyone to be an advocate for life in the holiness of truth," Bishop Lori said. "Let everyone know: we are patient and persistent. We are not going away."
On January 22, Bishop Lori joined 600 pilgrims from the Diocese of Bridgeport in Washington, D.C., for the 29th annual March for Life. The March held a special memory for him. One year ago, after giving the benediction at the March, he flew up to Connecticut for the announcement of his appointment as the new Bishop of Bridgeport.
Father Greg Markey, parochial vicar of Saint Peter Parish in Bridgeport, said Bishop Lori's support for the pro-life movement demonstrates that abortion is a mainstream issue for Catholics. "The bishop is not ashamed of the issue," Father Markey says. "He is an authentic leader who can stand up for an issue that may not be popular and show other people they can do the same."
Realizing that Haitians are the second-largest ethnic group in the diocese, Bishop Lori continues to reach out to the community. In June 2001, he visited Stamford to bless and dedicate the new Haitian American Catholic Center. Last February, he traveled to Haiti for the first time. (Photo by John Glover)
February 2002
Bishop Lori announced his intention to visit Haiti on New Year's Day, during a Mass in honor of Haitian Independence Day at Saint Charles Borromeo Parish in Bridgeport. On February 18, accompanied by members of the Order of Malta, he flew to the Caribbean country to witness firsthand the work to support young people and families in this most impoverised nation.
"I returned from Haiti with a renewed affection for the Haitian people, and their tremendous faith in the face of incredible suffering," Bishop Lori said. "I hope my brief sojourn will help me to become a more compassionate bishop."
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