CHARLESTON — When Bishop-designate Robert E. Guglielmone is ordained as the 13th bishop of the Diocese of Charleston, the eyes of the world will be upon him, from the comfort of their own homes.
The historic event will be streamed live on the Internet, making it the first time the S.C. diocese has been able to broadcast such an important day for Roman Catholics.
The ordination and installation will take place at 2 p.m. March 25 at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. The ceremony at the Cathedral is invitation-only because of the limited seating capacity, but Bishop-designate Guglielmone invites everyone to gather together and witness it from the best seat in their house.
Those who view the Mass on the diocesan Web site, www.catholic-doc.org, will be privy to commentary through out by Father Jeffrey Kirby, paroch ial vicar of St. Mary Help of Christians Church in Aiken, who will explain what is taking place.
Mediatrix radio will air the ordination live on WQIZ AM 810 in St. George and AM 1300 WCKI in Greer, and the audio also will be streamed live at www.catholicradiosc.com.
Cardinal Edward M. Egan, retired archbishop emeritus of New York, will be the principal consecrator of the ordination. Bishop William F. Murphy of Rockville Centre, N.Y., and Bishop Robert J. Baker of Birmingham, Ala., will be the co-consecrators. Archbishop Pietro Sambi, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, will also concelebrate the Mass of Ordination.
Bishop Baker was the head of the Diocese of Charleston from July 13, 1999, until Aug. 14, 2007, when he was appointed to the Birmingham diocese. Msgr. Martin T. Laughlin, P.A.,has served as the S.C. diocesan administrator since Oct. 3, 2007.
Bishop-designate Guglielmone is a native of New York. He obtained his degree in education and worked as a high school business teacher before entering Immaculate Conception Seminary in Huntington, N.Y. He was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Rock ville Centre on April 8, 1978.
Our appointed bishop has served in a pastoral capacity at St. Martin of Tours Church in Amityville, N.Y., and at St. Frances de Chantal Church in Wantagh, N.Y. He also served on the faculty of Immaculate Conception Seminary as the director of pastoral formation and dean of seminarians from 1986 to 1993. From 2004 to 2007, he served as the diocesan director of clergy personnel.
Most recently, Bishop-designate Guglielmone served as the rector of St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre.
He has been involved in Scouting since 1974 and has held local, regional, national and international leadership positions, including Scouting’s world chaplain, a post appointed by the Vatican.
Watch and listen live
Bishop-designate Robert E. Gugliel mone’s Mass of Ordination will be available by:
Streaming video: www.catholic-doc.org
Streaming audio: www.catholicradiosc.com
Radio: WQIZ AM 810, St. George and WCKI AM 1300, Greer