Monsignor Martino, previous auxiliary bishop of Philadelphia, is replacing Bishop James C. Timlin, who handed in his resignation to the Holy Father for reasons of age.
Monsignor Martino was born on May 1, 1946, in Philadelphia, Pa. He studied at Saint Charles Borromeo College Seminary, Overbrook (1964 – 1967: A.B., Philosophy) and did his theology studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, Italy (1967 – 1971: S.T.L. [Licentiate in Sacred Theology]). When in Rome, he resided at the North American College. He was ordained a priest in St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome on December 18, 1970.
He was a faculty professor at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, Overbrook, PA (1986 – 1992); instructor of church history, 1986 – 1991; dean of formation in the theology division, June, 1987 – January, 1990; assistant professor in church history, 1991 – 1992; director of the Office for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, January, 1990 – January, 1993, September, 1997; director of the Office for Renewal of Pastoral Life, June, 1992 – September, 1997.
Among other posts, he received a special assignment to the cause of canonization for Mother Katharine Drexel (1984 – 1986) later writing the «positio super virtutibus» [Position on Virtues], Rome, Italy, 1986, 3 vols.
For additional information see: dioceseofscranton.org or archdiocese-phl.org.
