Bishop Vincenzo Carmine Orofino

Bishop Vincenzo Carmine Orofino, Bishop of Tursi-Lagonegro, was born on July 8, 1953, in San Severino Lucano, in the Diocese of Tursi-Lagonegro. He entered the seminary of Potenza, completed his secondary studies at the seminary of Salerno, and was a student of the Almo Collegio Capranica while studying theology at the Gregorian University. He obtained a licentiate in dogmatic theology from the Lateran University. He was ordained a priest for Tursi-Lagonegro on October 4, 1980. He then served as parochial vicar of San Giacomo in Lauria and as head of youth ministry at Lauria (1980-1982), and in 1981 was elected a member of the presbyteral council and of the college of consultors. He was vicar cooperator of Maria Santissima della Visitazione at Senise (1982-1983) and director of the diocesan vocations commission (1982-1989). In 1982 he began teaching theology at the Institute of Religious Sciences, and from 1983 served for a decade on the regional priests' commission. In 1983 he was appointed parish priest of Beata Vergine Maria dell'Abbondanza and Maria Santissima del Carmine at San Severino Lucano, coordinating the pastoral activity of Maria Santissima degli Angeli and of the shrine of Maria Santissima del Pollino, and was charged with the spiritual care of university students at Potenza. He also directed the diocesan missionary office (1989-1996) and taught theology at the Interdiocesan Theological Institute of Potenza from 1992, where he was editor of the theological review. He was episcopal vicar and moderator of the curia (1993-1997), was designated a member of the regional commission for schools, universities and culture in 1999, directed the diocesan council for the laity (1996-2001), and was vicar general of Tursi-Lagonegro (1997-2004). On March 20, 2004, he was appointed Bishop of Tricarico. He received episcopal ordination on May 15, 2004, with Paolo Romeo as principal consecrator and Agostino Superbo and Francescantonio Nolè as co-consecrators. On April 28, 2016, he was appointed Bishop of Tursi-Lagonegro, and he was installed on June 25, 2016. Within the Italian Episcopal Conference he has served as secretary of the Episcopal Commission for the Service of Charity and Health, and as a member of the presidency of Caritas Italiana.