On February 27, 2020, the Holy See announced that then-Abbot of the American Cassinese Congregation, Fr. Elias Lorenzo, O.S.B., had been appointed as an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Newark. Since that landmark appointment, Bishop Lorenzo has continued to shape a path combining monastic heritage, educational commitment, and episcopal service.
Early Years & Monastic Formation
Born on October 6, 1960, in Brooklyn, New York — the son of William Elias and Mae Theresa Lorenzo — Bishop Elias R. Lorenzo spent his childhood attending St. Agatha Parish Elementary School in Sunset Park, followed by Cathedral Preparatory School and Seminary in Fort Greene.
He pursued undergraduate studies at Don Bosco College Seminary in Newton, New Jersey, earning a Bachelor’s in Philosophy. In 1983, he entered St. Mary’s Abbey, Morristown in New Jersey, and made his first monastic profession in 1985. On June 24, 1989, he was ordained a priest — a major milestone in his commitment to Benedictine life and ministry.
Pursuing further formation, Bishop Lorenzo earned advanced degrees including a Master’s in Liturgical Theology, a Master’s in Counseling Psychology, and a Licentiate in Canon Law.
Service in Education and Monastic Leadership
For more than three decades, Bishop Lorenzo devoted himself to education and spiritual formation at Delbarton School, a Benedictine run preparatory school in New Jersey. Over the years, he served as teacher, campus minister, Chairman of the Religious Studies Department, member of the Board of Trustees, and Vice President for External Affairs.
Simultaneously, he held key roles within his monastic community: Director of Liturgy, Prior of the Abbey, and Rector of the Abbey Church.
His leadership extended beyond the local community. He served internationally: as Prior of Sant’Anselmo Abbey in Rome, as Procurator General for his Benedictine Congregation, and as a founding member and President of the International Commission for Benedictine Education — traveling widely to oversee Benedictine educational institutions across continents.
In 2016, his peers elected him Abbot-President of the American-Cassinese Congregation, recognizing his longtime service and leadership among Benedictine monasteries across North and South America.
Appointment as Auxiliary Bishop & Episcopal Ministry
The Vatican’s February 27, 2020 announcement named Abbot Lorenzo as Auxiliary Bishop of Newark, with the titular see of Tabuda. After a brief delay caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, his episcopal consecration took place on June 30, 2020 at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark. The principal consecrator was Joseph W. Cardinal Tobin, along with co-consecrators Bishops Manuel Aurelio Cruz and John Walter Flesey.
As auxiliary bishop, Bishop Elias R. Lorenzo assists with pastoral oversight, liturgical leadership, and administrative responsibilities within the archdiocese, while drawing on his deep monastic and educational experience to serve a diverse, dynamic Catholic population.
Monastic Roots & Episcopal Identity
Even as a bishop, Lorenzo retains his Benedictine identity indicated by his “O.S.B.” designation and his episcopal motto, “Nihil impossible apud Deum” (“Nothing is impossible with God”).
His coat of arms reflects both his monastic heritage and his new role: combining symbols drawn from his family name, his Benedictine community, and his monastic-school affiliations. The design incorporates traditional Benedictine and Congregation symbolism alongside episcopal heraldry.
Significance & Ongoing Impact
Bishop Elias R. Lorenzo represents a rare blend of monastic discipline, academic formation, and ecclesiastical leadership. His journey — from Brooklyn parish schools, through monastic vows, decades in Catholic education, international Benedictine governance, and finally episcopal ministry demonstrates a commitment to service, faith, and the global Benedictine tradition.
For the Archdiocese of Newark, his appointment adds a bishop whose background in education and liturgy and canon law, combined with international Benedictine experience, is valuable for pastoral formation, interfaith dialogue, and community outreach.
In the two decades since his nomination, Bishop Lorenzo has continued to build on this strong foundation offering stable monastic values within the archdiocesan structure, and guiding the Catholics faithful and clergy with humility, intellectual depth, and spiritual formation rooted in Benedictine tradition.
Conclusion
The elevation of Bishop Elias R. Lorenzo from Abbot-President of a major Benedictine Congregation to Auxiliary Bishop of Newark is a testament to his decades of dedicated service in monastic life, Catholic education, liturgical ministry, and global Benedictine governance. As he continues his episcopal ministry, his unique background and steadfast faith promise to enrich the spiritual and administrative life of the Archdiocese of Newark in meaningful ways.