Rockville Centre auxiliary bishop retires; another one named

Published: 2007-04-03

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI has accepted the resignation of Auxiliary Bishop Emil A. Wcela, 75, of Rockville Centre, N.Y. He also named another priest of the Rockville Centre Diocese, Msgr. Peter A. Libasci, 55, as an auxiliary bishop there. Archbishop Pietro Sambi, apostolic nuncio to the United States, announced the changes in Washington April 3. Bishop-designate Libasci was born in New York and ordained to the priesthood in 1978. His assignments have included parishes in East Rockaway, Deer Park and Inwood, N.Y., and his current pastorate, St. Therese of Lisieux Parish in Montauk, N.Y. Prior to ordination, he earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy at St. John's University in New York and a master's in divinity at St. Meinrad's Archabbey Seminary in St. Meinrad, Ind. After ordination, he earned a master's degree in theology and catechetics from St. John's. Bishop-designate Libasci is fluent in Spanish, with some knowledge of Italian and Slovak.

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