The Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows brought joyful news for our neighbors in the Diocese of Metuchen, N.J. Our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, has appointed Bishop Michael A. Saporito as the sixth bishop of Metuchen.
Bishop Saporito, a graduate of the former Paul VI Catholic High School in the Diocese of Paterson, has cared for God’s people in the Archdiocese of Newark as priest and auxiliary bishop for almost 35 years. Through his gentle approachability, holy zeal, and a steadfast commitment to the new evangelization, Bishop Saporito strengthens the faith of those entrusted to his care and brings many to the Lord Jesus and his Church.
I have been privileged to get to know Bishop Saporito during the past six-plus years, since we were ordained bishops “one day apart.” Along with Bishop Elias R. Lorenzo, O.S.B., and Bishop Gregory J. Studerus, Bishop Saporito was ordained an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Newark on June 30, 2020. I was ordained a bishop and installed as the bishop of Paterson on July 1, 2020.
Bishop Saporito is a humble servant of the Lord committed to the care of souls who follows in the line of many who have come before him, including Archbishop James F. Checchio, formerly bishop of Metuchen and now Archbishop of New Orleans, and Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Newark, with whom he has worked so closely. Bishop Saporito is a shining example of a gentle and ardent herald of the gospel, and he brings a spirit of prayerful wisdom to every pastoral endeavor. He will shepherd the people of Metuchen with the full measure of love that flows from the Sacred Heart of Jesus through his own.
God bless Bishop Saporito and the people of the Diocese of Metuchen who continue the journey of faith with renewed spirit. As this new era begins, the faithful, clergy, and consecrated religious of the Diocese of Paterson send our congratulations and the encouragement of St. Paul, who teaches us that the preaching of the gospel is a never-failing gift and its own reward, “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14). Together, the Catholic dioceses of New Jersey work toward that goal.
With a promise of prayers and fraternal charity, I commend Bishop Michael A. Saporito and the good people of the Diocese of Metuchen to the maternal care of the Blessed Virgin Mary, asking the intercession of Saint Pope John Paul II, on whose Feast Day he will be installed, that she may assist Bishop Saporito to also lead others to “Open wide the doors for Christ!”
