Archdiocese of New York Auxiliary Bishop, now Bishop-designate of Rochester, John S. Bonnici made his first appearance in his new diocese on Wednesday morning at a press conference, before celebrating Mass at Rochester’s Sacred Heart Cathedral.
Earlier on Wednesday, Pope Leo XIV accepted the resignation of Most Reverend Salvatore R. Matano, 79, from the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Rochester, and appointed Bishop Bonnici as his successor.
Bishop-designate Bonnici was accompanied by Bishop Salvatore Matano, the previous Bishop of Rochester, who continues temporarily as its apostolic administrator. “It is truly wonderful to be with all of you here today. First and foremost, let me thank God. I am so grateful to our Heavenly Father and our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, for appointing me to serve as the 10th bishop of the Diocese of Rochester. I am also grateful to our apostolic nuncio, Cardinal Christophe Pierre, for his support and kind assistance. After receiving his call, I humbly and happily accepted with an open heart, a desire to serve. And again, an enormous, tremendous gratitude to our bishop, Bishop Matano, who is an incredibly hard act to follow,” Bishop-designate Bonnici said in remarks.
“I am truly grateful to Cardinal Dolan for all he has done for me over the course of the past four years. His mentorship, support, and fraternal love continue to be a great gift,” the bishop said.
Bishop-designate emphasizes listening and learning
Bishop-designate Bonnici pointed to the principles that he learned in school from his teacher, Sister Lara Moore, MHSH, and the “four ‘L’s of life”: “to listen, to learn, to love, and to live,” to explain his approach as the Diocese of Rochester’s designated leader, and promised to follow those principles in his new role.
“I look forward to working with faith and civic leaders in the community, all persons of good will seeking to accomplish positive and constructive change that respects the dignity of every single human being,” he said.
When asked by a reporter what kind of change he anticipates between Rochester and the Archdiocese of New York, he noted that “snow tires and boots” were on his list. But he said that Sister Lara’s instruction “to listen and to learn” would be his first steps.
In the afternoon, Bishop-designate Bonnici concelebrated Mass at Rochester’s Sacred Heart Cathedral. Bishop Matano thanked everyone who attended, many on short notice, having only learned of the new appointment this morning. He pointed out that one of the hymns sung at Wednesday’s Mass, “Tu Scendi Dalle Stelle,” was one he requested on the day of his installation. The title, in Italian, means “You came to us from the stars.” “I would like to believe, Bishop Bonnici, that you came to us from the stars,” Bishop Matano said.
Bishop-designate Bonnici made no remarks during the Mass.
Along with serving as an auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese, Bishop Bonnici is the pastor of the combined parish of St. Augustine, and St. Peter and St. Paul in Larchmont. Ordained on June 22, 1991, and appointed a bishop on January 25, 2022, by Pope Francis.