STATEMENT BY BISHOP THOMAS V. DAILY

DIOCESE OF BROOKLYN

ON APPOINTMENT OF BISHOP BARBARITO

July 01, 2003

            I am so delighted that our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, has chosen Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito to be the Bishop of Palm Beach, succeeding Archbishop Sean O’Malley.

            Bishop Barbarito is remembered fondly in the Brooklyn Diocese as a great gift from God, a holy priest with a genuine warmth and pastoral sensitivity that endeared him to clergy, Religious and laity who had the good fortune of meeting and working with him.

            He carried those same human qualities to the Diocese of Ogdensburg when he became the diocesan bishop there three years ago, and I know that the People of God in the North Country held him in great esteem and admiration.  Surely they are saddened that he will soon depart from ministry among them.

            At the same time, I can say with certainly that the faithful of Palm Beach will be happy when he arrives to serve them as their bishop.  They will meet a man of deep faith whose pastoral leadership will continue along the path set by Archbishop O’Malley.

            I congratulate the new archbishop of Boston. He is known here in Brooklyn at St. Michael’s parish in East New York, where the Capuchin Franciscan community served for so many years with great zeal.  I pray that Almighty God will continue to bless him as he undertakes this new and challenging position of leadership.