Archbishop Carlson appoints new Vicar General

ST. LOUIS — Archbishop Robert J. Carlson has appointed Reverend Monsignor Mark S. Rivituso, J.C.L. as Vicar General for the Archdiocese of St. Louis, effective August 1, 2011. Monsignor Rivituso replaces Reverend Monsignor Vernon E. Gardin, Ph.D. who has returned to parish ministry after seven years as Vicar General. 

Monsignor Rivituso, 49, currently is Judicial Vicar of the Tribunal of Second Instance of the Province of St. Louis, to which he was appointed in 2005, and pastor of Curé of Ars Parish in Shrewsbury, a position he has held since 2008. He was ordained to the priesthood on January 16, 1988 and was conferred the title of Honorary Prelate of His Holiness (Monsignor) in 2005 by Pope Benedict XVI.

Monsignor Rivituso will share the office of Vicar General with the Most Reverend Edward M. Rice (Auxiliary Bishop) and the Most Reverend Robert J. Hermann (Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus). Monsignor Rivituso will care for the North City, South City and Southwest County deaneries and serve as a ministry team leader. His appointment as Judicial Vicar will cease on August 1, 2011.

In his appointment letter, Archbishop Carlson wrote “In conferring upon you (Monsignor Rivituso) the office of Vicar General, I thank you for your generous willingness to accept the weighty responsibility of the office, for love of God and of His holy people, the Church in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. From my experience of your priestly ministry thus far, I am confident that you will serve the Church very well and, through your service, advance very much the New Evangelization of our society and culture.”

According to Monsignor Gardin, “Monsignor Rivituso is an excellent choice for the position of Vicar General. He is a good priest and a competent administrator who will bring Christ to those he serves. I am grateful for the opportunity for having served as Vicar General for Cardinal Burke and Archbishop Carlson. It is a ministry that reaches many people throughout the Archdiocese. I thank the Archbishop for allowing me to return to being a pastor.”

“I am honored to accept this appointment as Vicar General of the Archdiocese of St. Louis,” said Monsignor Rivituso. “It is a privilege for me to assist Archbishop Carlson in his pastoral and administrative duties. I want to express my personal gratitude to our Archbishop for his support and confidence in my abilities, as well as to Monsignor Vernon Gardin for his past dedicated and generous service as Vicar General. I ask for your prayers as I humbly serve the faithful of the Archdiocese of St. Louis.”

Monsignor Rivituso will continue to serve as pastor of and reside at Curé of Ars.

For story with an audio clip from Monsignor Rivituso