Andrew E. Bellisario

His Excellency, The Most Reverend Andrew Eugene Bellisario C.M
Archbishop of Anchorage-Juneau
Archdiocese	Anchorage–Juneau
Appointed	May 18, 2020
Installed	September 17, 2020
Predecessor	Paul D. Etienne
Previous post(s)	Bishop of Juneau (2017-2020)
Orders
Ordination	June 16, 1984 by  Juan Alfredo Arzube
Consecration	October 10, 2017 by  Paul D. Etienne, Roger Lawrence Schwietz, and Edward J. Burns
Personal details
Born	(1956-12-19) December 19, 1956 (age 68) Alhambra, California, US
Education	Saint Mary's of the Barrens Seminary College De Andreis Institute of Theology
Motto	Rich in mercy

Styles of Andrew Eugene Bellisario
Reference style	His Excellency The Most Reverend
Spoken style	Your Excellency
Religious style	Archbishop

Andrew Eugene Bellisario CM (born December 19, 1956) is an American Catholic prelate who has served as Archbishop of Anchorage-Juneau since 2020. He previously served as Bishop of Juneau from 2017 to 2019. He is a member of the Congregation of the Mission.

Biography

Early life

Born in Los Angeles on December 19, 1956, Andrew Bellisario is the son of Rocky and Mildred Bellisario. In 1975, he graduated from Saint Vincent Seminary High School in Montebello, California. ^[1]

In 1975, Bellisario entered the Congregation of the Mission (Vicentians). After the novitiate, he attended Saint Mary's of the Barrens Seminary College in Perryville, Missouri. He was awarded a Bachelor of Philosophy degree there in 1976. In 1980, Bellisario received a Master of Divinity degree from De Andreis Institute of Theology in Lemont, Illinois. ^[1]

Priesthood

On June 16, 1984, Bellisario was ordained at St. Vincent's Church in Los Angeles by Bishop Juan Alfredo Arzube into the priesthood for the Congregation of the Mission. ^[2] After ordination, he was give pastoral assignments in Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in Montebello, Saint Vincent de Paul in Huntington Beach, and a parish in Patterson. ^[1]

Bellisario later became the director of the De Paul Evangelization Center in Montebello. He also served as the provincial superior of the Vincentians, province of the West, and as the director of the Daughters of Charity, province of Los Altos Hills. ^[1]

The Vincentians assigned Bellisario to Alaska as director of the Vincentian International missions there. In May 2016, he was named pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Co-Cathedral Parish in the Archdiocese of Anchorage in Anchorage, Alaska.

Bishop of Juneau

On July 11, 2017, Pope Francis appointed Bellisario as bishop of Juneau. ^[3] He was consecrated by Bishop Paul Etienne on October 10, 2017, at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Juneau, Alaska. ^{[4] [2]}

On June 7, 2019, Bellisario was named apostolic administrator of Anchorage following the appointment of Archbishop Paul D. Eitenne as Archbishop of Seattle. ^[5]

Archbishop of Anchorage-Juneau

On May 19, 2020, Francis named Bellisario as archbishop of the newly formed Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau. ^{[6] [7]} Bellisario was installed on September 17, 2020.

Coat of arms as bishop of Juneau

Coat of Arms as Bishop of Juneau

Left side of shield

• The Wavy Silver and Blue lines: represents the water routes uniting the parishes and missions of the diocese.
• The Constellation Ursa Major, the Great Bear: The constellation includes the Big Dipper with its two pointers to the North Star.
• The North Star (Polaris): represents Mary, mother of Jesus, under her title "Our Lady, Star of the Sea" (Stella Maris). It also represents the constant guide of the mariner, explorer, hunter, trapper, prospector, woodsman and surveyor of Alaska.
• The Crescent Moon: represents the nativity of the Virgin Mary, and commemorates the cathedral church of the diocese.

Right side of shield

• The Cross of Saint Andrew: represents Andrew the Apostle, Bellisario's patron saint.
• The Long Stem Rose: represents Bellisario's mother, Mildred (1922–2006), and his English heritage.
• The Ship: represents the Catholic Church, the bark of Saint Peter. It also represents Bellisario's father, Rocky (1915–2005), the Bellisario family and his Italian heritage.
• The Sacred Heart of Jesus: represents Jesus and commemorates Bellisario's religious community, the Congregation of the Mission.
• The Immaculate Heart of Mary: represents the Virgin Mary and commemorates the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul.

References

1. "Our Archbishop". Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau. Retrieved 2021-09-11.
2. "Archbishop Andrew Eugene Bellisario [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
3. "Pope Francis Names Auxiliary Bishop Nelson Perez as New Bishop of Cleveland; Pope also Names Father Andrew Bellisario as New Bishop of Juneau" (Press release). July 11, 2017. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
4. "Pope Francis Appoints Father Andrew E. Bellisario, C.M. as the New Bishop of the Diocese Juneau" (Press release). July 11, 2017. Archived from the original on May 11, 2019. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
5. "Bishop Andrew Bellisario appointed apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Anchorage". Diocese of Juneau. Archived from the original on 2020-10-23. Retrieved 2019-06-20.
6. "Rinunce e nomine, 19.05.2020" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. May 19, 2020. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
7. "Pope Francis Merges Archdiocese of Anchorage and Diocese of Juneau and Names Bishop Andrew Bellisario, CM as Metropolitan Archbishop of Anchorage-Juneau | USCCB". www.usccb.org. Retrieved 2024-01-03.

External links

• Roman Catholic Diocese of Juneau Official Site

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Edward J. Burns	Bishop of Juneau 2017–2020	Succeeded by Office suppressed
Preceded by Paul Dennis Etienne	Archbishop of Anchorage-Juneau 2020–present	Succeeded by Incumbent