John S. Bonnici

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His Excellency, The Most Reverend

John Samuel Bonnici
Auxiliary Bishop of New York
Bishop-designate of Rochester
John S. Bonnici.jpg
Archdiocese New York
AppointedJanuary 25, 2022
InstalledMarch 1, 2022
Predecessor Salvatore Ronald Matano
Other post Titular Bishop of Arindela
Orders
OrdinationJune 22, 1991
by  John O'Connor
ConsecrationMarch 1, 2022
by  Timothy M. Dolan, John Joseph O'Hara, Gerald Thomas Walsh
Personal details
Born (1965-02-17) February 17, 1965 (age 60)
New York, New York
Education St. John's University
Pontifical Gregorian University
MottoTo Jesus through Mary
Styles of
John Samuel Bonnici
Coat of arms of John Samuel Bonnici.svg
Reference style
Spoken style Your Excellency
Religious style Bishop

John Samuel Bonnici (born February 17, 1965) is an American Catholic prelate who has served as an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of New York in New York City since 2022. He was appointed as bishop of the Diocese of Rochester in New York State in January 2025.

Contents

Biography

Early Life

John Bonnici was born on February 17, 1965, in New York City to John C. Bonnici and Gertrude (née Rilling) Bonnici. [1] He has one sister.

Bonnici attended the Cathedral Preparatory School and Seminary in Manhattan, New York and graduated in 1983. He earned a bachelor's degree in biology and philosophy at St. John's University in Brooklyn, New York, in 1987. [2]

Bonnici traveled to Rome in 1987 to attend the seminary of the Pontifical North American College and study at the Pontifical Gregorian University. He pursued his graduate studies at the Pontifical John Paul II Institute in Rome where he earned his Licentiate of Sacred Theology degree (1990-1992). At the Washington, D.C. campus of the same Pontifical John Paul II Institute, he earned his Doctor of Sacred Theology degree in 1995. [3]

Priesthood

Bonnici was ordained a priest at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan on June 22, 1991, by Cardinal John O'Connor for the Archdiocese of New York. [1] After his ordination, Bonnici was assigned to the faculty of St Joseph's Seminary in Yonkers, New York. [3] Over the course of 20 years he served as an adjunct professor of moral theology at St. Joseph's. In 1992 he moved to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Elmsford, New York, to serve as its parochial vicar. [3] In 1995, Bonnici became assistant director of the Archdiocesan Family Life/Respect Life Office. He became director the following year. [3] [4]

New York Governor George Pataki appointed Bonnici to a seven-year term on the board of trustees of the City University of New York in April 2002. [5]

In 2002, Bonnici became the pastor of St. Philip Neri Parish in the Bronx. [3] In 2008, he was assigned as pastor at St. Columba Parish in Chester, New York, serving there for the next 13 years. He also served as parochial administrator at St. Mary's Parish in Washingtonville, New York, from 2020 to 2021. [6] [3] In 2021 he was named pastor of St. Augustine Parish and Sts. John and Paul Parish in Larchmont, New York. [7]

Auxiliary Bishop of New York

On January 25, 2022, Pope Francis appointed Bonnici as an auxiliary bishop of New York. Bonnici was consecrated as a bishop at St. Patrick's Cathedral by Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan on March 1, 2022, with Auxiliary Bishops John O'Hara and Gerald Walsh serving as co-consecrators. [8] [9] [1] After his episcopal consecration, he continued to serve as pastor of St. Augustine Parish and Sts. John and Paul Parish in Larchmont. In his role as auxiliary bishop, he also serves as the episcopal vicar for Westchester and Rockland Counties. [10]

In May 2022, Bonnici accompanied Dolan on a visit to Poland and Slovakia to call attention to the plight of Ukrainian refugees from the February 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. [11]

Bishop of Rochester

On January 7, 2026, Pope Leo XIV accepted the retirement of Bishop Salvatore Ronald Matano and appointed Bonnici as the 10th bishop of Rochester [12] He is scheduled to be installed on March 19, 2026

Boards and Committees

Bonnici is a member of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on the Protection of Children and Young People [13] and the Subcommittee on the Catechism. [14] He also serves on the Pontifical North American College's Board of Governors since 2023.

Bonnici serves as a member of the board of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN United States) which provides pastoral and humanitarian assistance to the persecuted Church around the world. [15] He also serves as a member of the board of The Christopher Missions Foundation which primarily assists the Diocese of Miao in establishing village churches, building parish schools, providing clean drinking water wells, ministry to at risk women, and economic sustainability projects.

Publications

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Bishop John Samuel Bonnici [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  2. ↑ "Resignations and Appointments, 25.01.2022" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. January 25, 2022. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Pope Francis Names Two New Auxiliary Bishops of New York". US Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  4. ↑ Arenson, Karen W. (April 10, 2002). "Priest Aspires to CUNY Board". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Two New CUNY Trustees Appointed". CUNY Matters. Summer 2002. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Pope names two New York pastors as auxiliary bishops of N.Y. Archdiocese". National Catholic Reporter. January 25, 2022. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  7. ↑ "Clergy and Staff". The Catholic Community of Larchmont. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Pope Francis Appoints Two New Auxiliary Bishops for the Archdiocese of New York" (Press release). Archdiocese of New York. January 25, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Pope Francis Names Two New Auxiliary Bishops of New York" (Press release). U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Appointments for Four Auxiliary Bishops, Five Priests". The Good Newsroom. April 6, 2022. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
  11. ↑ "American bishop sees strong faith among Ukrainians affected by war". Aleteia — Catholic Spirituality, Lifestyle, World News, and Culture. May 10, 2022. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  12. ↑ Gandy, George (January 7, 2026). "Bishop Salvatore Matano resigns from Diocese of Rochester". Rochester First.com. Retrieved January 7, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Committee". USCCB. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
  14. ↑ "Members and Staff". USCCB. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Meet Our Leadership Team". Church In Need. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
  16. ↑ Bonnici, John S. (1999). Person to Person: Friendship and Love in the Life and Theology of Hans Urs Von Balthasar. Alba House. ISBN   978-0-8189-0858-3.
  17. ↑ "Partners in Life and Love". Barnes and Nobles.
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