Auxiliary bishops of Newark congratulate Bishop Saporito
On Oct. 22, Auxiliary Bishop Michael A. Saporito will be installed as the sixth bishop of the Diocese of Metuchen at the Cathedral of Saint Francis of Assisi in Metuchen, NJ.
To mark the joyous occasion, his brother auxiliary bishops in the Archdiocese of Newark shared the following heartfelt congratulations and words of gratitude.
The Diocese of Metuchen has been blessed with an extraordinary human being: a shepherd after the heart of the Father.”
– Bishop Chau
Bishop Pedro Bismarck Chau
“I met Bishop Saporito during my first year of theology, while serving in a pastoral assignment at St. Joseph Parish in Maplewood. I was immediately drawn to his enthusiasm, charismatic spirit, pastoral zeal, and style of leadership. My first thought was simple: I wanted to learn from this priest how to become a good pastor.
That assignment was a true blessing during my first year of seminary formation for the priesthood. I credit Bishop Saporito with awakening in me a desire to work closely with lay leaders and to empower lay men and women to become active protagonists in their parishes and steadfast supporters of their pastors.
That was the kind of shepherd I saw in Bishop Michael—and the kind of priest I wanted to become. The Diocese of Metuchen has been blessed with an extraordinary human being: a shepherd after the heart of the Father. May the Holy Spirit continue guiding his episcopate.”
I wish Bishop Michael every blessing and every joy as he begins this new chapter of his ministry.”
– Bishop Cruz
Bishop Manuel A. Cruz
“I am delighted to congratulate Bishop Michael Saporito as the new Bishop of Metuchen. Michael has been a dear friend for many years, and I have always admired his kindness, wisdom, and gentle spirit. He is an insightful pastor, a dedicated and hardworking shepherd, and, above all, a truly good and faithful friend.
I have no doubt that he will bring to the Diocese of Metuchen a heart full of pastoral love and a deep commitment to God’s people. I wish Bishop Michael every blessing and every joy as he begins this new chapter of his ministry.
May the Lord accompany him and make his episcopal service fruitful and grace-filled.”
While he is a humble man, once he steps into the pulpit he is transformed into a most engaging evangelist.”
– Bishop Lorenzo
Bishop Elias R. Lorenzo, O.S.B.
“I have known Bishop Saporito for the past six years working side by side as Auxiliary Bishops for our archdiocese. He is a son, a priest and pastor of this archdiocese, and the Regional Bishop for the Bergen County Vicariate. He is a gentle and humble servant, and his service to the Church has always been characterized by great zeal and joy for the gospel. In all of his pastoral assignments in our archdiocese, Bishop Saporito has always been known for preaching from his heart. While he is a humble man, once he steps into the pulpit he is transformed into a most engaging evangelist. His passion for evangelization is well-known to us, and he has consistently extended an outreach to those on the margins of society and the Church.
He was the architect of our Vine and Branches program, an initiative launched in this archdiocese to revitalize local parishes and reconnect with Catholics who stopped attending in-person Mass during the coronavirus pandemic. Most recently, Bishop Saporito has been the indefatigable leader of our pastoral conversion initiative, We Are His Witnesses. His love for Christ is evident to all who meet him. His pastoral concern for God’s people will be a great blessing to the priests, deacons, religious, and close collaborators in his new pastoral ministry in Metuchen.”
To view a photo gallery with highlights from Bishop Saporito’s years of service to the Archdiocese of Newark, CLICK HERE.
