Bishop Walsh Named Vicar for Clergy; Other Key Appointments Made

Auxiliary Bishop Gerald T. Walsh has been named vicar for clergy in the archdiocese and episcopal vicar of the Rockland, Central Westchester, South Shore and Yonkers vicariates. Six other clergy members—four priests and two deacons—have been appointed to positions of governance in the archdiocese, the Cardinal’s Office has announced.

The newly appointed priests are Msgr. Edward Weber, who has been named director of priest personnel; Father John O’Hara, director of the newly established strategic pastoral planning office; Father Robert Robbins, director of the newly established community outreach office; and Father Enrique Salvo, director of vocations.

Also, two deacons, Deacon Francis Orlando and Deacon James Bello, have been named to share leadership of the Diaconate Office.

The appointments will become effective on July 15 (Bishop Walsh, Msgr. Weber, Deacon Orlando and Deacon Bello), Aug. 1 (Father O’Hara and Father Salvo) and Sept. 1 (Father Robbins).

Bishop Walsh had served as rector of St. Joseph’s Seminary, Dunwoodie, since 2007. St. Joseph’s is now serving students from the dioceses of Brooklyn and Rockville Centre as well as the Archdiocese of New York. Msgr. Peter Vaccari, a priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn, has succeeded Bishop Walsh as rector.

Cardinal Dolan, in an interview about the appointments, told CNY that Bishop Walsh’s experience as seminary rector and as “an immensely successful pastor” in the Washington Heights parishes of St. Elizabeth’s, 1998-2007, and Incarnation, 1989-1995, along with his experience as priest-secretary to Cardinal O’Connor, 1996-1998, would serve him well as vicar for clergy.

Bishop Walsh told CNY that he was “very grateful” to Cardinal Dolan for the appointments, and “was looking forward” to serving the priests, and the deacons and their families, as vicar for clergy. He said he hoped “to build on the fine foundation that Msgr. Belford has established for the position.” As episcopal vicar of the four vicariates in Rockland and Westchester counties, the bishop said he planned to offer his full “support” to the priests, deacons, religious and lay people there.

Bishop Walsh has also served as vicar for development in the archdiocese since 2003 and was vicar of North Manhattan, 1998-2007. He served with the archdiocesan Catholic Charities as director of the Department of Family and Children’s Services, 1983-1989, and associate director, 1980-1983.

He was parochial vicar of Holy Trinity parish, Manhattan, 1967-1980. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1967, named a monsignor in 1990 and ordained a bishop in 2004.

Msgr. Belford had served as vicar for clergy. Msgr. Belford will return to his native Staten Island as pastor of St. Teresa of the Infant Jesus parish there (See Clergy Appointments).

Msgr. Edward Weber has served as pastor of St. Francis of Assisi parish in West Nyack since 1994 and as regional vicar of Rockland County since 2002. He will leave those positions. Before that, he served as parochial vicar at St. Margaret of Cortona, the Bronx; and St. Margaret Mary and St. Sylvester’s, both on Staten Island. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1976 and named a monsignor in 2006.

Father Thomas Devery, the current director of priest personnel, has agreed to remain with the office until December to assist in the transition to new leadership, Cardinal Dolan said.

Father John O’Hara has served since 2000 as pastor of St. Teresa of the Infant Jesus parish on Staten Island, a post he will leave. He had previously served as parochial vicar at St. Teresa’s, 1992-2000, and at St. Charles, Staten Island, 1984-1992. He was ordained in 1984.

Cardinal Dolan said Father O’Hara would assist Bishop Dennis Sullivan, vicar general, in pastoral planning. The cardinal said strategic planning would be “a pastoral priority” for the archdiocese throughout the next three to five years. “I need somebody in an undistracted way to give full-time attention to pastoral planning of parishes and schools,” he said. He said Father O’Hara’s service as a respected pastor on Staten Island with the experience of running a parish with a school would be beneficial in his new position.

Bishop Sullivan told CNY that he would “welcome” Father O’Hara as the first director of the newly formed office and looked forward to Father O’Hara’s collaboration.

“Planning always has to be part of our culture as a Church and as an archdiocese,” Bishop Sullivan said.

Father Robert Robbins has served since 1989 as pastor of Holy Family parish, Manhattan, a position he will relinquish. He has been serving since 2008 as director of the archdiocese’s Interfaith and Ecumenical Commission.

Another part of his responsibility would be to listen to the different groups that bring “the beautiful gift of the diversity of ethnic makeup of the Archdiocese of New York” to make sure their pastoral needs are being met. As community outreach director, Father Robbins will keep in touch with civic leaders, represent the archdiocese at business and community functions and be the “point person” to the broader community, the cardinal said.

Father Robbins was executive director of the Archdiocesan Office of Development, 1981-1989. From 1974 to 1981, he was parochial vicar of Resurrection parish, Rye. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1974.

Father Enrique Salvo has served for the past two years as parochial vicar of St. Elizabeth’s parish in Washington Heights. He was ordained to the priesthood in 2010.

As vocation director, he will “continue the good work” begun by his predecessor, Father Luke Sweeney, who will now serve as vice rector of Cathedral Seminary House of Formation.

Cardinal Dolan called the position of vocation director “a high priority” and said Father Salvo, a native of Nicaragua, had been a “very effective parochial vicar” at St. Elizabeth’s.

Deacon James Bello of Holy Cross parish, the Bronx, and Deacon Francis Orlando of Blessed Sacrament parish, New Rochelle, will share the responsibilities of the Office of the Diaconate.

Deacon Bello, who was ordained to the diaconate in 2000, will serve as director of diaconate ministry and life. Deacon Orlando, who was ordained in 1989, will serve as director of diaconate formation.

The two deacons will succeed Deacon Anthony Cassaneto, who is retiring after heading the office since 1993. Cardinal Dolan told CNY that it was Deacon Cassaneto who first suggested dividing the responsibilities of the office between two deacons, and that the Diaconate Council agreed with the suggestion.

“They’re both acclaimed and effective deacons,” Cardinal Dolan said. “They both have a love for the fraternity of the diaconate. And they’re both looking forward to the idea of serving among the deacons.”