‘Hip and Happening’ young priest appointed as auxiliary bishop for New York

Pope Francis on January 25 appointed two new auxiliaries for the Archdiocese of New York, one of whom will be one of the world’s youngest bishops.

Jan 28, 2022

Bishop-elect Joseph A. Espaillat


By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis on January 25 appointed two new auxiliaries for the Archdiocese of New York, one of whom will be one of the world’s youngest bishops.

The Vatican announced that Fr Joseph A. Espaillat and Fr John S. Bonnici will be ordained as bishops.

Born on Dec 27, 1976, Espaillat will be the youngest bishop in the United States once he is consecrated.

The 45-year-old is the director of the Hispanic Catholic Charismatic Renewal for New York archdiocese.

Espaillat launched a podcast and YouTube series called “Sainthood in the City” in 2021.

In a video promoting the launch, Espaillat, who also goes by Fr J, said that the podcast would include discussions on faith, music, sports, fashion, and pop culture.

“We’re going to talk about Pop Smoke. We’re going to talk about Kanye. We’re going to talk about Kim Kardashian. We’re going to talk about everything under the sun, and Cardi B,” Espaillat said.

A featured speaker at Steubenville Youth Conferences, Espaillat says that he loves ministering the sacraments, playing softball and basketball, writing poetry and rapping.

He was ordained in 2003 and has served as the pastor of St Anthony of Padua parish in the South Bronx since 2015.

Espaillat attended Cathedral Preparatory School in Manhattan before studying at Fordham University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy in 1998.

While in St Joseph’s Seminary in Dunwoodie, New York, Espaillat earned a Master of Divinity degree in Theology and a Master of Arts degree in Theology, specialising in Church history.

He has served as a director of youth ministry for the Archdiocese of New York, a pastor at St Peter’s parish in Yonkers, and as a parochial vicar at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs in Manhattan.

Bonnici and Espaillat’s episcopal ordinations will take place at St Patrick’s Cathedral on March 1.

The youngest bishop in the world is 40-year-old Bishop Cristian Dumitru Cri?an, an auxiliary in Romania, according to Catholic-hierarchy.org.

Bishop Andriy Rabiy, an auxiliary bishop for the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia, is the current youngest bishop in the United States at the age of 46.--CNA

Total Comments:0

Name
Email
Comments