Statement of The Most Reverend John J. Myers, Archbishop of Newark, on the passing of The Most Reverend Michael A. Saltarelli, Bishop Emeritus of Wilmington

I believe that Bishop Saltarelli embodied the priestly ideal. He not only represented Christ to people, he also saw Christ in everyone he met. I am grateful that I too came to know this holy man who influenced and helped deepen the faith of so many people in this Archdiocese and in Wilmington.

Note to Editors: The Most Reverend Michael A. Saltarelli, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Wilmington, DE, passed away early on the morning of October 8 from cancer. He had served as Bishop of Wilmington from 1995 until his retirement in 2008. Prior to being named as Bishop of Wilmington, Bishop Saltarelli had served as an Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Newark.  

Bishop Saltarelli was born in Jersey City, New Jersey on January 17, 1932. He was one of seven children born to Michael A. and Caroline Marzitello Saltarelli. He attended Holy Rosary Elementary School and Ferris High School in Jersey City. In 1956 he received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Seton Hall University and began his study of theology at Immaculate Conception Seminary in Darlington, New Jersey and later earned a Master’s Degree in Religious Studies from Manhattan College.

Bishop Saltarelli was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Thomas A. Boland in Sacred Heart Cathedral in Newark, New Jersey on May 28, 1960.
 
More information about Bishop Michael Saltarelli may be found on the Diocese of Wilmington website – www.cdow.org