Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin to Ordain New Auxiliary Bishop
Bishop-elect Pedro Bismarck Chau’s Ordination Set for Sept. 8
Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Newark, will ordain Father Pedro Bismarck Chau as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Newark on Monday, Sept. 8, at 2 p.m. at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark. Cardinal Tobin will serve as the principal celebrant and homilist for the Mass.
Assisting Cardinal Tobin as co-consecrators are two emeriti bishops of the Archdiocese of Newark: Most Reverend John W. Flesey and Most Reverend Gregory J. Studerus, whose retirement was accepted on the same day that Bishop-elect Chau was announced. Bishop-elect Chau, the first Nicaraguan-born bishop in the United States, will succeed Bishop Studerus as regional bishop of Hudson County.
Cardinal Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, will read the mandate from Pope Leo XIV, which calls the bishop-elect to service and assigns him to serve in the Archdiocese of Newark.
The Mass will be concelebrated by Bishop Silvio José Báez, O.C.D., Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Managua, Nicaragua, together with the Auxiliary Bishops of Newark — Most Reverend Manuel A. Cruz, Most Reverend Elias R. Lorenzo, O.S.B., and Most Reverend Michael A. Saporito. Joining them will be bishops from New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., and Louisiana, along with priests from across the Archdiocese of Newark. Also participating will be deacons, members of religious orders, seminarians, fraternal organizations and distinguished guests from the community. The faithful are welcome to attend.
“We are grateful to our Holy Father for the gift of Bishop-elect Chau,” Cardinal Tobin said. “His deep faith, pastoral experience and love for the people of God are blessings for our local Church. I look forward to his service as we continue our mission to witness to Jesus Christ, and I invite all the faithful to pray for him as he prepares for this new role of leadership.”
The Holy See appoints an auxiliary bishop to assist the diocesan bishop with the pastoral care and administration of the diocese. Auxiliary bishops also help administer the sacraments and often represent the archbishop at liturgies and community events.
The Ordination
The Rite of Ordination will take place after the proclamation of the Gospel and the singing of Veni Creator Spiritus, a ninth-century hymn invoking the Holy Spirit.
Cardinal Pierre will read the papal mandate confirming that Pope Leo XIV has appointed Father Pedro Bismarck Chau as bishop.
Cardinal Tobin will then deliver the homily, which will be followed by the bishop-elect making solemn vows of faithfulness and service. Afterward, Bishop-elect Chau will prostrate himself as the assembly prays the Litany of the Saints.
Two actions signify the heart of the ordination: First, Cardinal Tobin, along with the co-consecrators and other attending bishops, will lay their hands on the head of the bishop-elect, praying for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Then, in the name of the Church, Cardinal Tobin will recite the Prayer of Ordination, consecrating the new bishop. Bishop Chau’s head will be anointed with Sacred Chrism, and he will receive the symbols of his office: the Book of the Gospels, representing his ministry of preaching and teaching; the bishop’s ring, symbolizing fidelity and unity with the Church; the miter, a headdress signifying his call to holiness; and the crosier, or pastoral staff, symbolizing his call to shepherd the people of God. The rite concludes with the fraternal kiss of peace from the bishops present, a formal welcome into episcopal service.
Following the Mass, the newly ordained bishop will greet and bless the faithful in attendance. The ordination will be livestreamed on the Cathedral Basilica’s YouTube channel.
About the New Auxiliary Bishop
Bishop Pedro Bismarck Chau was born on June 28, 1967, in Managua, Nicaragua, and immigrated to the United States in 1984. He earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Seton Hall University and a master’s degree in theology and pastoral ministry from Immaculate Conception Seminary. He was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Newark on May 24, 2008.
Since then, he has served in parish, campus and archdiocesan ministries, including as pastor of St. Patrick’s Pro-Cathedral and St. John’s Church in Newark, and as chaplain for Rutgers University and the New Jersey Institute of Technology. In 2020, he was named rector of the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, where he continues to serve.
As auxiliary bishop, he will assist Cardinal Tobin in the pastoral care of the archdiocese, with responsibility for Hudson County. Learn more about Bishop Chau at www.rcan.org/bishop-chau and JerseyCatholic.org.