Bambera Named New Scranton Bishop, by Mark Guydish, Times Leader, February 23, 2010

Bambera Named New Scranton Bishop

By Mark Guydish
Times-Leader
February 23, 2010

http://www.timesleader.com/news/Bambera-named-new-Scranton-Bishop.html

SCRANTON (PA) -- The Vatican announced in it's daily bulletin that Monsignor Joseph Bambera will be the new bishop of the Diocese of Scranton. Bambera has been serving as Apostolic Administrator Justin Rigali's local delegate since Bishop Joseph Martino retired, running day to day operations.

Bambera was born 1956 in Carbondale and did his seminary work in the now-closed Saint Pius X seminary in Dallas. He has been with the diocese since 1983. He worked in St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Scranton and in St. Peter's Cathedral. He also served at St. John Bosco in Sugarloaf Township, and currently at St. Thomas Aquinas in Archbald and St. Mary of Czestocha in Eynon.

Monsignor Joseph Bambera upon appointment as Cardinal Justin Rigali's delegate after Bishop Joseph Martino Retired Aug. 31.
Photo by Calrk Van Orden

St. Thomas Aquinas was closed for emergency ceiling repairs shortly before Martino resigned Aug. 31, and after a press conference announcing that Bambera would take over daily duties, he made reference to the fact.: "Things continue to fall on me."

The quip exemplified why Bambera has been a popular parish priest. In public he exhibits a calm confidence and a ready smile, qualities the diocese took advantage of at times when a crisis developed.

In 2006 when Monsignor J. Peter Crynes resigned as pastor at St. Therese's Church in Shavertown amid allegations of sexual misconduct that had occurred years earlier, it was Bambera, in his role as episcopal vicar for the central pastoral region, who spoke at each Mass one weekend to explain the abrupt departure of the popular Crynes.

Bambera also testified in a 2007 civil suit regarding alleged sexual misconduct by the Rev. Albert Libatore. During his testimony, Bambera weathered nearly two hours of hard-hitting questions from an attorney representing the alleged victim, answering question regarding diocesan handling of abuse allegations through the years.

And in 2008 it fell to Bambera, again as vicar for the central region, to defend Bishop Martino's decision to close Sacred Heart Church in Wilkes-Barre. A group lead by Anthony and Noreen Foti are fighting that decision, and they wrote letters to Martino and the church pastor, Monsignor John Sempa, arguing against it. Bambera responded at one point, contending the estimated cost of repairing the church is too steep and "would reflect an irresponsible use of funds."

Bambera has served as vicar for priests, director of continuing education for priests, and formation director at St. Pius X Seminary, now a religious retreat.

In what arguably becomes an ironic comment in hindsight, when Bambera was appointed Rigali's delegate and asked if the hierarchy might appoint him as bishop he replied "I would hope not! ... Surely they could find someone better suited for the job than me."