In a significant move for the Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey, Pope Leo XIV has named Father Pedro Bismarck Chau—originally from Nicaragua—as its new auxiliary bishop. The appointment, announced on Friday, marks a new chapter in the spiritual leadership of the archdiocese, following the acceptance of the resignation of Auxiliary Bishop Gregory J. Studerus, who has retired at the age of 77.
Father Chau, a well-known priest in the archdiocese, currently serves as the rector of the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, a role he has held since 2020. His elevation to the episcopacy comes as a recognition of his longstanding dedication to ministry, pastoral care, and service to the Catholic community.
Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, Archbishop of Newark, welcomed the news with great enthusiasm. “I am deeply grateful to the Holy Father for appointing Bishop-elect Pedro Bismarck Chau as auxiliary bishop. His vibrant faith, pastoral insight, and genuine love for the people make him an ideal shepherd for our Church,” the cardinal said in a statement.
Born on July 18, 1964, in Managua, Nicaragua, Father Chau moved to the United States, where he became bilingual in English and Spanish, a gift that has helped him minister to diverse communities within the archdiocese. In 2004, he earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Seton Hall University in New Jersey, followed by theological studies at Immaculate Conception Seminary. He was ordained a priest on May 24, 2008.
His early priesthood included serving as a parochial vicar at Our Lady of Mount Virgin in Garfield from 2008 to 2012. Deeply committed to youth ministry, Chau became associate director of the archdiocesan Youth and Young Adult Ministry and Catholic Youth Organization from 2012 to 2015. His passion for vocations led him to the role of assistant director of vocations between 2013 and 2016.
In a dynamic stretch of his ministry, Father Chau also served as campus minister at both the New Jersey Institute of Technology and the Newman Center at Rutgers University while simultaneously pastoring St. John’s Church and St. Patrick Pro-Cathedral. His leadership extended further as a member of the archdiocesan Priest Personnel Board from 2017 to 2020.
A lifelong learner and counselor, Father Chau returned to Seton Hall University to pursue a master’s degree in professional counseling, which he completed in 2021. His pastoral work has also included specialized roles, such as chaplain for the Deaf ministry, faculty member at Immaculate Conception Seminary, and contributor to the V Encuentro movement, supporting the Latino Catholic population in the United States.
As auxiliary bishop, he will join fellow auxiliary bishops Manuel A. Cruz, Michael A. Saporito, and Elias R. Lorenzo in supporting Cardinal Tobin in serving the spiritual needs of more than one million Catholics across the Newark Archdiocese. Bishop-elect Chau's appointment symbolizes not only a personal milestone but also the Church’s commitment to a pastoral future grounded in faith, inclusivity, and service.