Most Rev. Jerome Edward Listecki
Archbishop of Milwaukee
The Most Reverend Jerome Edward Listecki was named the 11th archbishop of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee by Pope Benedict XVI. Listecki succeeded the Most Reverend Timothy M. Dolan, who was named archbishop of New York on February 23, 2009, and installed as archbishop of New York April 15, 2009. Listecki previously served as bishop of the Diocese of La Crosse. He was installed as bishop on March 1, 2005, succeeding the Most Reverend Raymond L. Burke.
Archbishop Listecki was installed as archbishop of Milwaukee on January 4, 2010, by the Papal Nuncio to the United States, Archbishop Pietro Sambi. At that time, he assumed responsibility for the spiritual well-being of Catholics in the 10 counties of southeastern Wisconsin and took on the day-to-day administration of the archdiocese.
A native of Chicago, Archbishop Listecki attended St. Michael the Archangel Grammar School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary South High School and Niles College of Loyola University. He began his graduate studies at the University of St. Mary of the Lake, Mundelein Seminary in 1971, and was ordained a priest on May 14, 1975. On November 7, 2000, he was appointed auxiliary bishop of Chicago by Pope John Paul II and was ordained a bishop on January 8, 2001. In January 2002, Archbishop Listecki was named the episcopal vicar of the Vicariate 1 of the archdiocese of Chicago. In addition, Listecki is also a retired lieutenant colonel in the United States Army Reserves.
Archbishop Listecki was first assigned as a deacon at St. Michael Parish in Orland Park, Ill., from 1974-1975. His first assignment as a priest was at St. Margaret Mary Parish, Chicago, from 1975-1976. In 1976, he was appointed dean of students at Quigley Preparatory Seminary North, Chicago, and was also assigned to Mater Christi Parish, North Riverside, Ill. In 1976, Archbishop Listecki earned a civil law degree from DePaul University, Chicago.
Archbishop Listecki began graduate studies in Canon Law and Moral Theology in 1979 at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, Rome, earning a doctoral degree in Canon Law in 1981, and continuing Moral Theology studies until his return to the Archdiocese of Chicago in 1983.
Upon returning from Rome, he taught Canon Law and Moral Theology at the Archdiocese of Chicago major seminary, the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Ill. He remained on the faculty until his appointment as pastor of St. Ignatius Parish, Chicago, in August 2000.
In January 2013, Archbishop Listecki issued his Pastoral Letter, Who Do You Say That I Am, on ecclesiology. That Letter became the foundation for an Archdiocesan Synod held on Pentecost Weekend, June 6-8, 2014. The Synod helped shape the direction for the mission of the archdiocese, including a newly articulated mission statement:
To proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ through his saving death and resurrection by calling, forming and sending disciples to go and make new disciples. As a people, we are called to encounter Jesus and grow as disciples through the sacramental life of the Church.
Born March 12, 1949, Archbishop Listecki is the son of Harry and Alfreda (Kasprzk) Listecki. They are both deceased. He has one sister, Mary (Penny), who resides in Tinley Park, Ill., a south Chicago suburb.
His Episcopal motto is the phrase "Life is Christ," from St. Paul's Letter to the Philippians (Phil 1:18-26).
His Coat of Arms explained.