The oldest Roman Catholic bishop in the world is Archbishop Peter Leo GERETY, Archbishop Emeritus of Newark (New Jersey, USA). Next month (19 July 2016) he will celebrate his 104th birthday!

In addition, this month (June) he celebrates a rare 50th anniversary as a bishop, and his 77th anniversary of priestly ordination.

Archbishop Gerety still recalls the excellent formation he received at the Sulpician seminary at Issy-les-Moulineaux, which occurred at a time when some U.S. dioceses would send their seminarians to Le Grand Séminaire d’Issy-les-Moulineaux for their formation. Just a few years ago, Arcbishop Gerety wrote a letter to the Superior General, Father Ronald D. WITHERUP, PSS, to ask if he could come for a brief visit to the seminary. Needless to say, the response was most favorable. Unfortunately, because of his fragility, the trip was not possible, but his interest in revisiting the site of his priestly formation was most touching.

In the name of the Society of the Priests of Saint Sulpice, we wish Archbishop Gerety every blessing the Lord can bestow on this rare and magnificent occasion of his three major anniversaries!

One can consult in English an article in the National Catholic Reporter by Patricia LEFEVERE published in the (1 June 2016) for the full story.

Le Grand Séminaire d’Issy-les-Moulineaux