Off to Rome

You'd think these days that, with all the American clerics coming home from the service of the Holy See, none are going over to take their places.

And in that, you'd be mistaken. Effective tomorrow, the diocese of Manchester is releasing one of its own to serve at the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.

Msgr Anthony Frontiero, who's taking up residence at Villa Stritch -- Whispers' Roman clubhouse -- has served as a pastor in New Hampshire over the last three and a half years.

Prior to that, however, he earned his spot on the Renato Martino Farm Team as an attache at the Holy See Mission to the UN under the then-Observer, currently the cardinal-president of Iustitia et Pax.

AP ran a piece back in April when the appointment was made public:

"I'm a little fearful because I don't know what I'll be doing really," Frontiero said. "I love being a pastor."...

Frontiero is known as an energetic pastor who is willing to experiment. He has been involved in special Masses held monthly to try to attract young people to the church. In October, he spoke at the Strange Brew Tavern about sexuality.

Patrick McGee, spokesman for the Diocese of Manchester, called Frontiero "a talented man and a very good pastor."

"With every transition there are good parts and parts that leave you very sad," he said.

If only Carl Marucci stuck around....

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