Msgr. Berardi Named Superior in Rome

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Msgr. Ferdinando D. Berardi, the pastor of Holy Family parish in New Rochelle, has been appointed superior of Casa Santa Maria, a residence for English-speaking priests continuing graduate studies in Rome. Casa Santa Maria is part of Pontifical North American College.

The appointment was announced Nov. 11 at a gathering of the North American College Board of Governors at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops meeting in Baltimore. Msgr. Berardi told CNY the appointment initially came as a surprise to him, though he’d known of it since Columbus Day when Cardinal Dolan asked to meet with him following the parade on Fifth Avenue.

“I was extremely surprised,” said Msgr. Berardi. “I was there on the cathedral steps and I was told, ‘The Cardinal wants to see you.’”

It will be a homecoming of sorts for Msgr. Berardi, who was born in Bari, Italy. He came to the United States in 1958, with his family settling on Staten Island.

“That’s one of the reasons I took the assignment,” he said. “I was born there. I lived two years at the Casa as a student and I hoped at some point to have another extended time in Rome. I still have relatives in Italy. So it will be great to be once again with that part of the family.”

Msgr. Berardi said he expects to begin his new assignment in early February. He spoke to CNY from the train station in Baltimore where he was getting ready to board for the trip back to New York. He said he’d be meeting with his parish staff as soon as he got to New Rochelle to let them know about the move. He said he would formally announce his departure to parishioners this Sunday.

“I obviously have mixed emotions on this,” he said. “I was ready to leave in June because my 12 years are up...Leaving the parish so unexpectedly is going to be difficult but I think people will understand. I know I will have their support. The people have been tremendous in my 12 years there.”

Msgr. James Checchio, rector of the Pontifical North American College, welcomed the appointment.

“He’s been a loyal alumnus of the College,” he said. “I think it suits him well. It represents a good ministry for him, and I think he presents a good superior, given his pastoral and administrative background. He’s basically responsible for the daily operations of the Casa. More importantly he’s in charge of the care and shepherding of the 69 priests who are doing graduate studies there.”

Msgr. Berardi was ordained in 1977. He holds a master’s degree in liturgy from the University of Notre Dame and a licentiate in sacred theology from the Pontifical International Institute of St. Anselm in Rome. He was named a monsignor in 1995.

He served as director of the archdiocesan Office for the Society for the Propagation of the Faith from 1993 to 2002.