By JUDY RATTNER
The appointment was announced in Washington, D.C. last weekend by Archbishop Pietro Sambi, apostolic nuncio to the United States. Bishop-elect Guglielmone succeeds Bishop Robert Baker, who headed the Charleston diocese before he was named bishop of Birmingham, Ala. in August 2007. Guglielmone will be ordained and installed as the Diocese of Charleston's 13th bishop on March 25.
"I am both humbled and grateful that His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI would entrust this awesome ministry to me," Guglielmone said. "I must admit that I am a bit anxious about leaving Long Island where I have spent almost my whole life. However, I do trust in the Lord and am very encouraged by the wonderful sense of Southern hospitality I have already experienced."
"While we will miss his priestly presence and fraternal care he extended to one and all, we rejoice in this appointment which also shines a light to all the fine priests of this beloved diocese," said William Murphy, bishop of the Diocese of Rockville Centre.
Since 2003, Guglielmone served as diocesan director of clergy personnel, residing at Our Holy Redeemer parish in Freeport. He was pastor of St. Francis de Chantal parish in Wantagh from 1993 to 2003. Prior to that assignment, he was director of pastoral formation and dean of seminarians at the Immaculate Conception Seminary in Huntington. Pope John Paul II conferred the papal honor of monsignor on him (specifically, Prelate of Honor) in 1996.
Before his ordination, Guglielmone taught marketing, management and business. at Patchogue-Medford High School in Medford from 1968 to 1973. His first assignment after ordination in 1978 was as associate pastor at St. Martin of Tours parish in Amityville. His pastoral year was at St. James parish in Setauket.
Born in New York City and raised in Mastic Beach, Guglielmone earned a bachelor's degree in education from St. John's University with a minor in business. He has been active in the Boy Scouts since his seminary days. He has been national scouting chaplain, New York chaplain, and is chaplain for the International Catholic Conference on Scouting and the Holy See's World Ecclesiastical Assistant for Scouting.
