Paul Loverde
Encyclopedia
Paul Stephen Loverde is the bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Arlington in Northern Virginia
.
, Massachusetts
on September 3, 1940. He received his secondary school education at La Salle Academy in Providence
, Rhode Island
, followed by an education at Saint Bernard Seminary College in Rochester
, New York
. He graduated with a B.A. (summa cum laude) in 1962 and was chosen to study in Rome
at the Pontifical Gregorian University
. Loverde earned his licentiate in Sacred Theology there in 1966.
in Rome. After completing his studies in Rome in 1966, he returned to the United States and began serving in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Norwich
, Connecticut
. He served in a variety of capacities within the diocese, including assistant pastor in a parish church and campus minister and chaplain at several local colleges.
His leadership positions in the diocese included personnel manager for priests and several positions on the diocesan tribunal. In 1988, Loverde was consecrated an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Hartford. After serving there for six years, he was chosen as the eleventh bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ogdensburg
, New York
, where he served from 1994 to 1999. He was installed as the third bishop of the Diocese of Arlington on March 25, 1999 at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More.
Since 2003, Bishop Loverde has been the chairman of the board of Catholic Distance University
. In 2010, he received the CDU Founders Award for his service to the university.
Bishop Loverde sent a "dubium" about the altar girl matter to the Holy See's Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments. In response, the congregation ruled that while bishops may allow female laity to serve at the altar, this cannot be compelled upon pastors or priests.
Northern Virginia
Northern Virginia consists of several counties and independent cities in the Commonwealth of Virginia, in a widespread region generally radiating southerly and westward from Washington, D.C...
.
Early life
Bishop Loverde was born in FraminghamFramingham, Massachusetts
Framingham is a New England town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 68,318 as of the United States 2010 Census. -History:...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
on September 3, 1940. He received his secondary school education at La Salle Academy in Providence
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
, Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
, followed by an education at Saint Bernard Seminary College in Rochester
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He graduated with a B.A. (summa cum laude) in 1962 and was chosen to study in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
at the Pontifical Gregorian University
Pontifical Gregorian University
The Pontifical Gregorian University is a pontifical university located in Rome, Italy.Heir of the Roman College founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola over 460 years ago, the Gregorian University was the first university founded by the Jesuits...
. Loverde earned his licentiate in Sacred Theology there in 1966.
Ordination and service
Loverde was ordained as a priest in November 1965 at St. Peter's BasilicaSt. Peter's Basilica
The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter , officially known in Italian as ' and commonly known as Saint Peter's Basilica, is a Late Renaissance church located within the Vatican City. Saint Peter's Basilica has the largest interior of any Christian church in the world...
in Rome. After completing his studies in Rome in 1966, he returned to the United States and began serving in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Norwich
Roman Catholic Diocese of Norwich
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Norwich is a Roman Catholic ecclesiastical territory or diocese in Connecticut in the northeastern United States. It was erected on August 6, 1953 by Pope Pius XII....
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. He served in a variety of capacities within the diocese, including assistant pastor in a parish church and campus minister and chaplain at several local colleges.
His leadership positions in the diocese included personnel manager for priests and several positions on the diocesan tribunal. In 1988, Loverde was consecrated an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Hartford. After serving there for six years, he was chosen as the eleventh bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ogdensburg
Roman Catholic Diocese of Ogdensburg
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Ogdensburg is a Roman Catholic diocese in New York. It was founded on February 15, 1872.On February 23, 2010, the Most Reverend Terry R...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, where he served from 1994 to 1999. He was installed as the third bishop of the Diocese of Arlington on March 25, 1999 at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More.
Since 2003, Bishop Loverde has been the chairman of the board of Catholic Distance University
Catholic Distance University
Catholic Distance University , located in Hamilton, Virginia, is a private undergraduate and graduate institution that is "in the vanguard of Catholic distance learning." Established in 1983 in the Arlington diocese by Bishop Welsh, CDU offers an accredited bachelor degree in theology completion...
. In 2010, he received the CDU Founders Award for his service to the university.
Criticism
Bishop Loverde in 2006 permitted female altar servers in the Diocese of Arlington for the first time. Prior to this action, Arlington was one of only two dioceses in the United States to retain the traditional practice of altar boys.Bishop Loverde sent a "dubium" about the altar girl matter to the Holy See's Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments. In response, the congregation ruled that while bishops may allow female laity to serve at the altar, this cannot be compelled upon pastors or priests.