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	N.H. Bishop Described As Humble, Hard-Working By John Toole The Eagle-Tribune September 20, 2011 http://www.eagletribune.com/newhampshire/x7813628/N-H-bishop-described-as-humble-hard-working The new bishop for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Manchester is a warm, personable, humble and hard-working cleric, say those who know him on Long Island. The Most Rev. Peter Anthony Libasci was introduced yesterday at a press conference in Manchester as the next leader of the Catholic Church in New Hampshire. Libasci, 59, is auxiliary bishop for the Diocese of Rockville Centre in New York. He will be installed as the Diocese of Manchester's bishop at a ceremony scheduled for Dec. 8, Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Libasci succeeds Bishop John B. McCormack, who has presided over the Diocese since 1998. McCormack is a controversial figure, because his time as bishop coincided with the priest sex abuse scandals in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. McCormack had been a top aide to Cardinal Law in the Archdiocese of Boston. Libasci is well-liked on Long Island. "As priest, as pastor and as bishop, Bishop Libasci brought a deep sense of the holy to all the many pastoral efforts that have marked his tenure in this Diocese," Bishop William Murphy of the Diocese of Rockville Centre said. "He is very friendly, very much a person who is good with people," said Msgr. William Koenig, rector of St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre. "He is a man who is spiritual, a hard worker, he is humble and he has a sense of humor." As a priest, Libasci was able to pull people together to build a new church in Montauk Point, Koenig recalled. "He is wonderful," Rockville Centre mayor Francis X. Murray said. "Bishop Libasci has been a champion of the poor and vulnerable, and a great supporter of all the ministries of our agency," said Laura A. Cassell, CEO of Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Rockville Centre. University of New Hampshire sociology professor Michele Dillon, a scholar on Catholicism, said McCormack's legacy will be somewhat tainted by the sex abuse scandals. Most Catholics have moved on, she said, despite the pain and anger those scandals caused. "Bishop McCormack has managed to steer the Diocese through a great deal of upheaval and to maintain the relevance of the church during a time of significant social and economic change," Dillon said. Challenges face Libasci, she said. These include keeping parish communities together amid consolidations forced by the shortage of priests, as well as helping the poor in difficult economic times, Dillon said. Libasci told reporters he was grateful to Pope Benedict for entrusting him with the ministry. • • • Join the discussion. To comment on stories and see what others are saying, log on to eagletribune.com. Contact: jtoole@eagletribune.com
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