Bishop William E. Lori of Bridgeport, Conn.

“Through greater devotion to Our Lady and her intercession, may we all grow in our own faith, and seek to bring others closer to God.”

 
The Most Reverend William E. Lori Bishop of Bridgeport, CT and Supreme Chaplain

As supreme chaplain of the Knights of Columbus, Bishop William E. Lori has the responsibility of overseeing the spiritual welfare of 1.7 million Knights of Columbus and their families, as well as that of the residents of his Diocese of Bridgeport.

A native of Louisville, Ky., Bishop Lori earned a bachelor’s degree from the Seminary of Saint Pius X in Erlanger, Ky., in 1973, and a master’s degree from Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md., in 1977.

In 1982, Bishop Lori received his doctorate in Sacred Theology (S.T.D.) from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

Bishop Lori was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Washington by Cardinal William Baum on May 14, 1977, in St. Matthew Cathedral in Washington, D.C. In 1995, Bishop Lori was ordained to the episcopate as auxiliary bishop of Washington and titular bishop of Bulla, an ancient suffragan see in modern-day Tunisia.

Bishop Lori is chairman of the board of Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn., and of The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

Since 2001, Bishop Lori has been a member of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities and the Committee on Doctrine of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). In 2002, President George W. Bush invited Bishop Lori to join the President’s Committee on Mental Retardation.

Bishop Lori is a tireless advocate of the culture of life and the dignity of the human person. In 2004, he dedicated Villa Maria Guadalupe in Stamford, Conn. The property was purchased by the Knights of Columbus, who invited the Sisters of Life, a religious community dedicated to protecting and advancing the sacredness of all human life, to offer pro-life retreats for individuals and families.

Bishop Lori was elected supreme chaplain of the Knights of Columbus in April 2005.