Bishop Lawrence Persico of Erie was a student at St. Joseph Preparatory School in Unity Township when the late Monsignor Giuseppe De Andrea taught there and was headmaster.
After serving various ministries in the Diocese of Greensburg (1958-1981), including being pastor at St. James Church in Salem Township, Monsignor De Andrea returned to his native Italy. He was installed as a bishop there, then Titular Archbishop of Anzio, and was appointed by Pope Paul II to serve as apostolic nuncio to Kuwait, Yemen and Bahrain.
Bishop Persico, as a monsignor and vicar general of the Diocese of Greensburg, was pastor of St. James Parish from 1997 to 2012 when he was appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Erie.
Monsignor Larry Kulick wondered who would lead the Diocese of Greensburg after Bishop Edward Malesic was installed in the Diocese of Cleveland in September.
How easily would the new bishop fit in with the 126,000 Catholics in the 78 parishes in Westmoreland, Indiana, Fayette and Armstrong counties? Would he have a sense of humor? Would he like pierogis, pizza and the Terrible Towel?
âI have been fervently praying for the announcement,â he said about Pope Francisâs anticipated appointment.
As vicar general under Bishop Malesic and diocesan administrator after the bishop left, he would be the one receiving the news.
That call came the week before last when he learned that Pope Francis had appointed him as the sixth bishop of the diocese.