Andrew E. Bellisario
Andrew Eugene Bellisario (born December 19, 1956) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who has been serving as archbishop of the Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau in Alaska since 2020. Bellisario served as bishop of the former Diocese of Juneau from 2017 to 2019 and as apostolic administrator of the former Archdiocese of Anchorage for almost a year. Biography. Early life. Born in Los Angeles, Bellisario is the son of Rocky and Mildred Bellisario. In 1975, he graduated from Saint Vincent’s Seminary High School in Montebello, California. In 1975, Bellisario entered the Congregation of  the Mission (Vicentians). After finishing his novitiate, he went to Saint Mary’s of the Barrens Seminary College in Perryville, Missouri, receiving a Bachelor of Philosophy degree in 1976. In 1980, Bellisario was awarded a Master of Divinity degree from De Andreis Institute of Theology in Lemont, Illinois. Priesthood. On June 16, 1984, Bellisario was ordained into the priesthood for the Congregation of the Mission.After his ordination, Bellisario had the following pastoral assignments in Southern California parishes: Bellisario later became the director of the De Paul Evangelization Center in Montebello.  He also served as the provincial superior of the  Vincentians, Province of the West, and as the director of the Daughters of Charity, Province of Los Altos Hills. Bellisario was then assigned to Alaska as director of the Vincentian International missions there. In May 2016, he was named pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Co-Cathedral Parish in the Archdiocese of Anchorage in Anchorage, Alaska. Bishop of Juneau. On July 11, 2017, Pope Francis appointed Bellisario as bishop of the Diocese of Juneau. He was consecrated by Bishop Paul Etienne on October 10, 2017 at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Juneau, Alaska. At his installation mass, Bellisario remarked:"We  as bishops need a living encounter and relationship with Christ, and our people need us to be in close relationship with Christ. Our friendship with Christ, indeed, our love for Christ, will lead us to his cross. I pray that Christ may help you to see the crosses of your life also as a ‘friend,’ for it is solely from this ‘tree of life’ that we enjoy the gift of salvation."In 2018, Bellisario appointed an independent commission to investigate claims of sexual abuse against priests in the Diocese of Juneau. The commission included several retired judges and a retired  police lieutenant. On August 22, 2019, the commission released its report. It found seven priests and one brother who were credibly accused of sexual abuses of minors. Bellisario made this statement:“I want to offer a very sincere apology. It brings a lot of shame and a lot of regret and a lot of sorrow to me personally as bishop of this diocese, but it is something that needs to be expressed to those who have been harmed.”On June 7, 2019, Pope Francis appointed Bellisario to also serve as apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Anchorage following the appointment of  Archbishop Paul D. Eitenne as Archbishop of Seattle. Archbishop of Anchorage-Juneau. On May 19, 2020, Pope Francis named Bellisario as archbishop of the newly formed Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau. Bellisario was installed on September 17, 2020. + Both hearts are taken from the reverse side of the Miraculous Medal. Coat of Arms. Right side of shield, Bellisario's coat of arms. Motto: "Rich in Mercy" (Dives in Misericordia)