STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Pope Francis has named three priests to serve under Cardinal Timothy Dolan as auxiliary bishops to the Archdiocese of New York. Two of the bishop-elects are John O'Hara and Peter Byrne, 30-year priests who have been staples in the Catholic community on Staten Island.

Bishop-elect O'Hara, 68, is currently the director of strategic pastoral planning for the archdiocese. He was once the pastor of the Church of St. Teresa of the Infant Jesus on Staten Island and has served in the borough for a total of 24 years.

Byrne, 62, is the former longtime pastor of Immaculate Conception, where he served for 18 years, from 1995 to 2013.

The news was announced Saturday morning in Washington D.C. by Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, apostolic nuncio to the United States.

"It was with much joy that I received word from the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States that our Holy Father, Pope Francis, has named three new auxiliary bishops to the Archdiocese of New York," Cardinal Dolan said. "All three bishops-elect are seasoned pastors of the archdiocese, with years of acclaimed ministry in all areas of the archdiocese."

The two priests, along with Bronx Pastor John Jenik, 70, will be ordained as bishops on August 4, 2014, in Saint Patrick's Cathedral. They'll be joining current New York bishops Gerald Walsh and Domenick Lagonegro.

Sunnyside resident and St. Teresa's parishioner Bob Scamardella has known Father O'Hara since his arrival at the church.

"Now more than ever the Catholic Church needs invigorating and dynamic leadership. As my pastor at St. Teresa's I've seen Father O'Hara in action," Scamardella said. "Through his actions and words he brings the faith to life with the ability to clearly illustrate how Catholicism is about forgiveness, charity and peace. The Pope has made an inspired selection."

Priest Bios

John O'Hara: A native of Jersey City, New Jersey, Bishop-elect John O'Hara was born to John and Helen (Quinn) O'Hara on February 7, 1946. After working in the field of journalism, he entered Saint Joseph's Seminary in 1980, and was ordained to the priesthood on December 1, 1984 by Cardinal John O'Connor.

He has served at Saint Augustine's Parish, New City, Saint Charles Parish, Staten Island, and Saint Teresa Parish. In 2012 he was appointed to assist with the pastoral planning process, Making All Things New, which he has led since 2013.

Peter Byrne: Bishop-elect Peter Byrne was born to John and Dorothy (Nolan) Byrne in Manhattan on July 24, 1951, in Manhattan. He was ordained a priest by Cardinal O'Connor on December 1, 1984, and has served at Holy Family Parish, the Bronx, Saint Thomas Aquinas Parish, also in the Bronx, Immaculate Conception Parish and Saint John the Baptist Parish, Staten Island, and, since 2013, at Saint Elizabeth Parish in Manhattan. He is also fluent in Spanish and French.