Andrew E. Bellisario

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His Excellency, The Most Reverend

Andrew Eugene Bellisario
Archbishop of Anchorage-Juneau
Andrew E. Bellisario.jpg
ArchdioceseAnchorage–Juneau
AppointedMay 18, 2020
InstalledSeptember 17, 2020
PredecessorPaul D. Etienne
Orders
OrdinationJune 16, 1984
ConsecrationOctober 10, 2017
by Paul D. Etienne, Roger Lawrence Schwietz, and Edward J. Burns
Personal details
Born (1956-12-19) December 19, 1956 (age 65)
Alhambra, California
Previous post(s)Bishop of Juneau (2017-2020)
MottoRich in Mercy
Coat of armsCoat of arms of Andrew Eugene Bellisario (Anchorage-Juneau).svg
Styles of
Andrew Eugene Bellisario
Coat of arms of Andrew Eugene Bellisario (Anchorage-Juneau).svg
Reference style
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleBishop

Andrew Eugene Bellisario CM (born December 19, 1956) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who serves as Archbishop of Anchorage-Juneau.

Bellisario was Bishop of Juneau for three years and Apostolic Administrator of Anchorage for almost a year.

Biography[]

Born in Los Angeles, Bellisano is the son of Rocky and Mildred Bellisario. In 1975, he graduated from Saint Vincent’s Seminary High School in Montebello, California.[1]

In 1975, Bellisario entered the Congregation of the Mission (Vicentians). In 1976, he received a BA in Philosophy from Saint Mary’s of the Barrens Seminary College in Perryville, Missouri. In 1980, Bellisario was awarded a Master of Divinity degree from De Andreis Institute of Theology in Lemont, Illinois.[1] On June 16, 1984, Bellisario was ordained a priest.

Bellisario first served as Parochial Vicar and Administrator of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church in Montebello. He then became the Pastor of Saint Vincent de Paul Church in Huntington Beach, California. Bellisario then served as the Pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Patterson, California.[1]

Bellisario later became the Director of the De Paul Evangelization Center in Montebello.  He also served as the Provincial Superior of the Vincentians, Province of the West, and as the Director of the Daughters of Charity, Province of Los Altos Hills.[1]

In May 2016,, Bellisario was named Pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Co-Cathedral in the Archdiocese of Anchorage in Anchorage, Alaska.

Bishop of Juneau[]

Coat of Arms as Bishop of Juneau

On July 11, 2017, Pope Francis appointed Bellisario bishop of the Diocese of Juneau.[2] Bellisario was consecrated and installed on October 10, 2017 at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Juneau, Alaska.[3]

At his installation mass, Bellisario remarked:

"We as bishops need a living encounter and relationship with Christ, and our people need us to be in close relationship with Christ. Our friendship with Christ, indeed, our love for Christ, will lead us to his cross. I pray that Christ may help you to see the crosses of your life also as a ‘friend,’ for it is solely from this ‘tree of life’ that we enjoy the gift of salvation."[4]

In 2018, Bellisario appointed an independent commission to investigate claims of sexual abuse against priests in the Diocese of Juneau. The Commission included several retired judges and a retired police lieutenant.[5]

Archbishop of Anchorage-Juneau[]

On June 7, 2019, Pope Francis appointed Bellisario apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Anchorage following the transfer of Archbishop Paul D. Eitenne to serve as the Archbishop of Seattle.[6]

On August 22, 2019, the Independent Commission released its report. The Commission found seven priests and one brother who were credibly accused of sexual abuses of minors.[5] Bellisario made this statement:

“I want to offer a very sincere apology. It brings a lot of shame and a lot of regret and a lot of sorrow to me personally as bishop of this diocese, but it is something that needs to be expressed to those who have been harmed.”[5]

On May 19, 2020, Pope Francis named Bellisario archbishop of the newly formed Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau.[7] Bellisario was installed on September 17, 2020,[8]

Coat of Arms[]

Left Side of the Shield, Diocese of Juneau

  • The Wavy Silver and Blue lines: Represents water, the highway uniting the parishes and missions of the diocese.
  • The Constellation Ursa Major, the Great Bear: The constellation of the Northern Hemisphere includes the Big Dipper with its two pointers to the North Star.
  • The North Star (Polaris): Represents the Virgin Mary under her title "Our Lady, Star of the Sea" (Stella Maris). It also represents the constant guide of the mariner, explorer, hunter, trapper, prospector, woodsman and surveyor of Alaska.
  • The Crescent Moon: Represents the nativity of the Virgin Mary, and commemorates the Cathedral church of the diocese.

Right Side of the Shield, Bishop Bellisario's Personal Coat of Arms

  • The Cross of Saint Andrew: Represents Saint Andrew the Apostle, Bellisario's Patron Saint.
  • The Long Stem Rose: Represents Bishop Bellisario's mother, Mildred (1922–2006), and his English heritage.
  • The Ship: Represents the Catholic Church, the Bark of Saint Peter. It also represents Bellisario's father, Rocky (1915–2005), the Bellisario Family and his Italian heritage.
  • The Sacred Heart of Jesus+: Represents Jesus and commemorates Bellisario's religious community, the Congregation of the Mission .
  • The Immaculate Heart of Mary+: Represents the Virgin Mary and commemorates the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul, .

+ Both hearts are taken from the reverse side of the Miraculous Medal.

Motto: "Rich in Mercy" (Dives in Misericordia)

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d "Our Archbishop". Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau. Retrieved 2021-09-11.
  2. ^ "Pope Francis Names Auxiliary Bishop Nelson Perez as New Bishop of Cleveland; Pope also Names Father Andrew Bellisario as New Bishop of Juneau" (Press release). July 11, 2017. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  3. ^ "Pope Francis Appoints Father Andrew E. Bellisario, C.M. as the New Bishop of the Diocese Juneau" (Press release). July 11, 2017. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  4. ^ "Bishop Bellisario ordained for Juneau, Alaska". October 11, 2017. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  5. ^ a b c Hohenstatt, Ben (2019-08-21). "Bombshell Report: 7 local clergy named in sex misconduct cases". Juneau Empire. Retrieved 2021-09-11.
  6. ^ http://dioceseofjuneau.org/news-articles/bishop-andrew-bellisario-cm/bishop-andrew-bellisario-appointed-apostolic-administrator-of-the-archdiocese-of-anchorage/
  7. ^ "Rinunce e nomine, 19.05.2020" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. May 19, 2020. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  8. ^ "SAVE THE DATE: Installation". Retrieved July 5, 2020.

External links[]

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Bishop of Juneau
2017–2020 		Succeeded by
Office suppressed
Preceded by Archbishop of Anchorage-Juneau
2020–present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
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