Monsignor John A. Alesandro, who has been "priest in residence" at St. Joseph's Parish in Garden City for nearly 30 years, has been selected to temporarily lead the Catholic Church on Long Island, following the death of Bishop James McHugh.

In accordance with Canon Law of the Catholic Church, the diocesan College of Consultors met last Tuesday and elected Msgr. Alesandro as diocesan administrator for the Diocese of Rockville Centre until a successor to Bishop McHugh is selected by the Vatican.

Monsignor Alesandro has been serving as the Vicar General and Vicar for Administration of the diocese under Bishop McHugh, who died last Sunday after an extended bout with cancer.

As administrator, Monsignor Alesandro will be responsible for the day-to-day operation of the diocese. During this interim period, no major changes are to be made. The liturgical functions of the bishop, if and when they occur, will be performed by one of the two diocesan auxiliary bishops- Bishop Emil Wcela, a former pastor at St. Joseph's, and Bishop John Dunne, or retired Bishop John McGann.

Monsignor Alesandro, originally from Woodhaven, New York, graduated magna cum laude from the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception, Huntington, as well as being educated at North American College, Rome (completing his Licentiate in Sacred Theology at the Gregorian University cum laude in 1967) and was ordained to the priesthood in St. Peter's Basilica, Rome on Dec. 17, 1966.

After serving as associate pastor at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in West Hempstead, Father Alesandro returned to Gregorian University, Rome to pursue a doctorate in Canon Law, which he received summa cum laude in 1971. Upon his return to the Diocese of Rockville Centre, he was named vice-officialis of the diocesan Tribunal. He was appointed vice-chancellor for the diocese in 1974 and chancellor in 1978. In 1980, he was named an honorary prelate to Pope John Paul II, with the title "Monsignor."

Monsignor Alesandro returned to the study of law and graduated from St. John's University School of Law in 1994, earning his degree summa cum laude and graduating as class valedictorian. In 1995 he was named Episcopal Vicar for the Western Vicariate of the diocese and Vicar for Administration. This year he was named Vicar General of the diocese. He is also vice president of the Diocesan Corporation.

A member of the Canon Law Society of America, Monsignor Alesandro is currently chairman of its Committee on American Jurisprudence. Previously he had served in various positions, including consultor, vice-president, president, and past president. He is also a member of the Catholic Theological Society of America. In addition, he served for over 20 years as consultant to the National Conference of Catholic Bishops' Canonical Affairs and Doctrine Committees and the NCCB's Delegation to the Vatican Commission on the Revision of the Code of Canon Law. In 1993 Msgr. Alesandro was appointed a member of the Papal joint commission on the judicial process of dismissal. Since 1985 he has been a member of the New York State Governor's Task Force on Life and the Law.

Following Monsignor Alesandro's election as diocesan administrator, Father Joseph Schlafer, pastor of St. Joseph's Church, wrote in a message to his parishioners, "Besides his duties on the diocesan level, his [Monsignor Alesandro's] prayerful presence and pastoral support has been a great blessing for St. Joseph's Parish. It is now a blessing for our diocese that Msgr. Alesandro, working with Bishop McGann, Bishop Wcela, and Bishop Dunne can enable the Diocese to continue to serve the needs of the People of God. Let us pray for him as he assumes this new responsibility."

Upon learning about his appointment as diocesan administrator, Monsignor Alesandro stated, "I am grateful for the support shown to me by the bishops and priests on the College of Consultors. With the help of Bishops McGann, Wcela, and Dunne I will do my best to continue the policies and vision of Bishop McHugh and to maintain the many excellent qualities of our diocese in anticipation of our next bishop."