GREENSBURG — Pope Francis has appointed Very Rev. Father Edward C. Malesic, J.C.L., judicial vicar of the Diocese of Harrisburg and pastor of Holy Infant Parish, York Haven, bishop of the Diocese of Greensburg and accepted the resignation of Bishop Lawrence E. Brandt, 76, from pastoral governance of the diocese.
The appointment was announced at 6 a.m., EDT, at the Vatican.
Bishop-elect Malesic, 54, will be introduced at a media conference later this morning.
Bishop-elect Malesic was born Aug. 14, 1960, in Harrisburg to Joseph A. and the late Elizabeth Schatt Malesic. One of four siblings, he was raised in Enhaut, which is just outside of Harrisburg.
He received the sacraments of initiation at his hometown parish, the former St. John the Evangelist Parish.
A 1978 graduate of Central Dauphin East High School, Harrisburg, Bishop-elect Malesic attended Lebanon Valley College, Annville, as a biology major for three years before entering the seminary.
In 1981, he was accepted into the seminary program at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, where he received a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy in 1983. He continued his theological studies and formation at the Josephinum where he received the master of divinity degree in 1987.
He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop William H. Keeler May 30, 1987, at St. Patrick Cathedral, Harrisburg.
Bishop-elect Malesic served in various pastoral assignments in the Diocese of Harrisburg. He was assistant pastor of St. Theresa Parish, New Cumberland (1987-89) and St. Rose of Lima Parish, York (1989-92), and while in York he served as the Catholic campus minister of York College of Pennsylvania. He was appointed to full-time campus ministry in 1992 and served four years at Millersville University. In 1993, he also was appointed to campus ministry at Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster. He also served the spiritual needs of students at Messiah College, Dillsburg, from 2000 to 2004.
In 1996, he began canon law studies at The Catholic University of America in Washington, receiving his licentiate in canon law in 1998. He served the Diocese of Harrisburg’s Tribunal in various capacities until he was appointed judicial vicar in 2006.
In 2004, Bishop-elect Malesic was appointed to Holy Infant Parish as administrator and later as pastor. There, he helped launch the relocation and construction of a new church and parish center, which is scheduled for completion in 2016.
Bishop-elect Malesic has served on several boards, committees and organizations in the Diocese of Harrisburg including the diocesan Presbyteral Council and College of Consultors, Hospice of Central Pennsylvania, and the Youth Protection Committee of the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference (PCC).
The ordination and installation Mass for Bishop-elect Malesic will be celebrated July 13 at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral, Greensburg. The time and other details will be announced later.
Click here to read a statement from Archbishop Charles Chaput.
Check the website of the Diocese of Greensburg for more information.
