Bishop Listecki named 11th archbishop of MilwaukeeRead Time 2 min

Bishop William P. Callahan, at podium, Bishop Richard J. Sklba, seated, and Archbishop-designate Jerome E. Listecki, share a laugh during a media conference at Saint Francis Seminary, Nov. 14, on the morning of his appointment as Milwaukee’s 11th archbishop. (Catholic Herald photo by Ernie Mastroianni)

Chicago native currently bishop of La Crosse

Bishop Jerome Edward Listecki was named the 11th archbishop of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee by Pope Benedict XVI, the Vatican announced Saturday. Listecki, 60, succeeds Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan, who was installed as archbishop of New York April 15.

Bishop Listecki serves as bishop of the Diocese of LaCrosse, where he was installed as bishop on March 1, 2005.

Bishop Listecki will be installed as Archbishop of Milwaukee in early January by the Papal Nuncio to the United States, Archbishop Pietro Sambi.

A native of Chicago, Bishop Listecki graduated from St. Michael the Archangel Grammar School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary South High School and Niles College of Loyola University. He completed graduate studies at the University of St. Mary of the Lake, Mundelein Seminary and was ordained a priest on May 14, 1975. On Nov. 7, 2000, he was appointed auxiliary bishop of Chicago by Pope John Paul II and was ordained a bishop on Jan. 8, 2001. In January 2002, Bishop Listecki was named the Episcopal Vicar of the Vicariate 1 of the Archdiocese of Chicago. Bishop Listecki is also a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserves.

Bishop Listecki was assigned as a deacon at St. Michael Parish in Orland Park, Ill., from 1974-1975. His first assignment as a priest was at St. Margaret Mary Parish, Chicago, from 1975-1976. In 1976, he was appointed dean of students at Quigley Preparatory Seminary North, Chicago, and was also assigned to Mater Christi Parish, North Riverside, Ill. In 1976, Bishop Listecki earned a civil law degree from DePaul University, Chicago.

Bishop Listecki began graduate studies in Canon Law and Moral Theology in 1979 at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, Rome, earning a doctoral degree in Canon Law in 1981, and continuing Moral Theology studies until his return to the Archdiocese of Chicago in 1983.

Upon returning from Rome, he taught Canon Law and Moral Theology at the Archdiocese of Chicago major seminary, the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Ill. He remained on the faculty until his appointment as pastor of St. Ignatius Parish, Chicago, in August 2000.

As the bishop of La Crosse, Bishop Listecki led the diocese in various initiatives including a successful $50 million dollar capital campaign; the individual incorporation and computerization of all 165 parishes of the diocese; raising over a half-million dollars in Gulf Coast flood relief; assisting in relief for the local floods; and the formulation of a diocesan-wide pastoral plan.

Born March 12, 1949, Bishop Listecki is the son of Harry and Alfreda (Kasprzk) Listecki. They are both deceased. He has one sister, Mary (Penny), who resides in Tinley Park, Ill., a south Chicago suburb.

Information provided by the Archdiocese of Milwaukee communications office.