Peter Baldacchino

Early life and education

Baldacchino was born in Sliema, Malta. He was educated in Mount Carmel College, now Saint Elias College (http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20140504/social/Old-boy-visits-childhood-college.517546; http://www.newsbook.com.mt/artikli/2014/4/30/l-isqof-baldacchino-izur-l-iskola-fejn-kien-student.17484/). While he was a student at the University of Malta he became interested in the Neocatechumenal Way. He earned a diploma in sciences from the University of Malta, electrical installation licenses from Umberto Calosso Trade School in Malta, and a bachelor of arts degree from Thomas Edison State College in Trenton, New Jersey. While studying at the Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology at Seton Hall University he lived in community at the Redemptoris Mater Missionary House of Formation in Kearny, New Jersey. He received a master of divinity degree from Seton Hall. Baldacchino was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Newark on May 25, 1996 by Archbishop Theodore McCarrick. He holds dual citizenship in both the United States and Malta.

Priesthood

After ordination, Baldacchino served as the parochial vicar at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish in Ridgewood, New Jersey from 1996 to 1999. He was assigned as the chancellor of the Roman Catholic Mission Sui Iuris of Turks and Caicos in 1999. In 2002 he became the pastor of Our Lady of Providence Church on Providenciales Island. Pope Benedict XVI named Baldacchino a Chaplain of His Holiness, with the title of Monsignor. He is fluent in English, Italian, Maltese, Spanish and Creole.

Episcopacy

Pope Francis named Baldacchino the titular Bishop of Vatarba and an auxiliary bishop of Miami on February 20, 2014. He was consecrated on March 19, 2014 by Archbishop Thomas Wenski. Archbishops Patrick Pinder of Nassau and Charles Dufour of Kingston in Jamaica were the principal co-consecrators.