Diocese of Las Vegas

Most Reverend Joseph A. Pepe
Bishop of Las Vegas

Joseph Anthony Pepe was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on June 18, 1942, one of two children born to Francis V. (deceased) and Elvira (Fazio) Pepe. The future bishop was baptized at St. Francis de Sales Church, Philadelphia. He attended St. Mary of the Assumption and later Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish elementary school. Following his graduation from Roman Catholic High School, Philadelphia, in 1960 ,he entered St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Overbrook. Joseph A. Pepe was ordained a priest on May 16, 1970.

Father Pepe first served as Assistant Pastor at Our Lady of Loreta Parish, and as a member of faculty at Cardinal O'Hara High School, Springfield. Father Pepe received his Doctorate in Canon Law from Rome's Pontifical University of Saint Thomas in 1976.

Father Pepe was ordained Defender of the Bond, Metropolitan Tribunal, Archdiocese of Philadelphia in 1976, and as Prosynodal Judge a year later. Ten years later, Father Pepe was appointed Vice Chancellor, and in 1990, he was named Chancellor of the archdiocese. During his tenure in the Chancery, Father Pepe served as Vice Promoter for the Cause of Blessed Katharine Drexel. From 1982 through 1987, Father Pepe was a member of the faculty of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, where he taught Canon law.

In May, 1991, Monsignor Pepe was named Honorary Prelate of His Holiness, Pope John Paul II. Monsignor Pepe then served briefly as Pastor of St. Justin Martyr Parish in Narberth. Upon special request of the Bishop of Santa Fe, New Mexico, Monsignor Pepe went to the Archdiocese of Santa Fe in 1993 to assist as the Judicial Vicar. In April 1998, Monsignor Pepe was appointed Chancellor, Moderator of the Curia, and Vicar for Priests for the Archdiocese of Santa Fe.

Pope John Paul II has named Reverend Monsignor Joseph A. Pepe as the second Bishop of the diocese of Las Vegas in Nevada on April 6, 2001. Most Reverend Pepe was ordained a bishop and installed as the second bishop of the diocese of Las Vegas on May 31, 2001.

from the bishop

VISION STATEMENT

The Church of Las Vegas is the intimate encounter of Christ that brings the light of hope to all.

Values

Relationships

Education

Authenticity

Compassion

Hope

MISSION STATEMENT

The Diocese of Las Vegas is a community of believers who proclaim the Gospel message of Hope by serving all through evangelization, life-long formation, and worship.

Most Reverend Joseph A. Pepe

Bishop of Las Vegas

Phone: (702) 735-3500

Fax: (702) 735-8941

E-mail: bagan@dioceseoflasvegas.org

Most Reverend Joseph A. Pepe, D.D.J.C.D, was ordained a priest

on May 16, 1970; appointed Second Bishop of Las Vegas on

April 7, 2001; ordained and installed Bishop on May 31, 2001.

Lobbying & Electoral Politics

We bishops specifically do not seek the formation of a religious voting bloc, nor do we wish to instruct persons on how they should vote by endorsing or opposing candidates. We do, however, have a right and a responsibility as teachers to analyze the moral dimensions of the major issues of our day. We hope that voters will examine the positions of candidates on the full range of issues, as well as their personal integrity, philosophy and performance. We are convinced that a consistent ethic of life should be the moral framework from which we address all issues in the political arena In this consistent ethic we address a spectrum of issues, seeking to protect human life and promote human dignity from the inception of life to its final moment.