Pope Names Long Island Priest Bishop of Charleston, South Carolina
WASHINGTON—Pope Benedict XVI named Msgr. Robert E. Guglielmone, 64, rector of the Cathedral of St. Agnes in the Diocese of Rockville Centre, New York, as Bishop of Charleston, South Carolina.
The appointment was announced in Washington, January 24, 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, August 14, 2007.
Robert E. Guglielmone was born on December 30, 1945. He graduated from St. John's University, Jamaica, New York, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education. He then earned a Master of Divinity degree in Theology from Immaculate Conception Seminary, in Huntington, New York.
He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Rockville Centre on April 8, 1978. He was named a Prelate of Honor in 1996.
Assignments after ordination included Parochial Vicar, St. Martin of Tours Parish, Amityville, New York, 1978-1986; Diocesan Chaplain to the Scouts, part-time, 1983-1990; Director of Pastoral Formation and Dean of Students, Immaculate Conception Seminary, 1986-1993; Associate National Chaplain, National Catholic Committee on Scouting, 1986-1989; Pastor, St. Frances de Chantal Parish, Wantagh, New York, 1993-2004; Ecclesiastical Assistant, International Catholic Conference on Scouting, 2000-present; Director for Clergy Personnel, Diocese of Rockville Centre, 2004-2007; and Rector, St. Agnes Cathedral, 2007-present.
The Charleston Diocese includes 31,055 square miles. The total population of the diocese is estimated at 4,301,700 people, with 183,356, or four percent, of them Catholic.