Diocese Of Greensburg Announces Monsignor Larry Kulick As New Bishop

GREENSBURG (KDKA) - The Diocese of Greensburg has officially announced its newest bishop, Monsignor Larry Kulick.

Pope Francis officially selected Kulick as the sixth bishop of the diocese.

"I would like to express my gratitude to the Holy Father for his confidence and trust in appointing me as Bishop of the Diocese of Greensburg. Western Pennsylvania has always been my home. I feel honored to be able to serve as Bishop in the Diocese where I was born, raised, educated, ordained, and have served my entire life," said Bishop-elect Kulick.

Bishop-elect Kulick is a hometown boy who already works in the diocese. He said he's been praying and contemplating about who might be the new bishop and was caught by surprise when he got the phone call offering him the job.

He'll lead a diocese with 78 parishes in Armstrong, Fayette, Indiana and Westmoreland counties. There are 18 schools.

"Greensburg is a diocese filled with dedicated clergy and religious, faith-filled, hard-working people who love Christ and his church," he said.

But the new bishop will face the daunting challenges of the Catholic Church: ministering during a pandemic, declining membership and the aftershocks of a pedophile scandal.

"I want to acknowledge the sad and historical reality of clergy sexual abuse. I am deeply saddened by these horrific acts," he said.

Kulick gets high praise from Pittsburgh Bishop David Zubik.

"I am thrilled for the faithful for the Diocese of Greensburg that Pope Francis has appointed one of their own clergy, Bishop-elect Larry Kulick, as the sixth bishop of Greensburg. Bishop-elect Kulick is an amazing pastor and an outstanding administrator," said Bishop Zubik.

And Kulik's predecessor, Edward Malesic, now Cleveland's bishop says, "I am extremely happy with the appointment of Bishop-elect Kulick and have every confidence that he will be an excellent shepherd for the church of the diocese."

A couple of fun facts about the bishop-elect: he's an enthusiast of vintage Pontiacs and he was once a contestant on "The Price is Right" but didn't make the showdown.

Bishop-elect Kulick will be ordained and officially installed on February 11, 2021.