Former SLI President and CEO

Monsignor Stephen J. Rossetti is a priest of the Diocese of Syracuse. He graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1973 as a distinguished graduate and spent six years in the Air Force as an intelligence officer. After ordination, he served in two parishes: St. Patrick in Binghamton, NY and St. James in Johnson City, NY.  He is the author of the Paulist Press bestseller I Am Awake and the Twenty-Third Publications’ Fire on the Earth. He is editor of the Silver Gryphon Award-winning book Slayer of the Soul, author of A Tragic Grace, published by Liturgical Press, the Ave Maria books: When the Lion Roars: A Primer for the Unsuspecting Mystic and The Joy of Priesthood, the latter receiving a Catholic Press Association Book award. He edited Behold Your Mother: Priests Speak About Mary and in the fall of 2009, Ave Maria Press released his latest book: Born of the Eucharist: A Spirituality for Priests.

A licensed psychologist in the States of Maryland and Massachusetts, Msgr. Rossetti has a Ph.D. in psychology from Boston College and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Catholic University. He was chair of the Maryland Psychological Association’s ethics committee. He received a Proclaim Award in 1994 from the U.S. Bishops’ Conference, a Lifetime Service Award from Theological College, and is the National Federation of Priests' Councils 2010 Touchstone Award recipient.

As the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Saint Luke Institute, Msgr. Rossetti led the Institute in significantly expanding its services for both men and women.  This includes expanding the focus of the men’s residential program to treat a wide range of psychological and spiritual difficulties. In addition, a highly effective treatment program for women religious, the Talitha-Life Program, was established. Msgr. Rossetti also focused the Institute’s efforts on promoting the psycho-spiritual wellness of thousands of priests and religious internationally through its newsletters, workshops and consultation services.  In 2005, Msgr. Rossetti was asked by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales to spearhead the founding of St. Luke’s Centre, in Manchester, England, a similar program for priests and religious in the U.K. and Ireland.  

Msgr. Rossetti consistently advocated and worked toward the prevention of child sexual abuse.  He promoted awareness of the devastating effects on victims and developing more effective treatment and supervision of offenders.  For example, shortly after becoming the President of SLI, he instituted the policy of recommending to dioceses and religious orders that priests or religious, having sexually molested a minor anytime in the past, never be returned to any unsupervised work or contact with minors. During his tenure as president, Saint Luke Institute treated 150 priests who had sexually abused minors with 4 of these known to have relapsed, yielding a very low relapse rate of 2.7%.  He was one of the original consultants in 1998 that developed National Catholic Risk Retention’s child prevention program called VIRTUS and an expert adviser to the U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishop’s Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Abuse that drafted the 2002 Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.  Msgr. Rossetti was a 1994 founding board member of the Interfaith Sexual Trauma Institute (ISTI) which promotes the prevention of sexual abuse, exploitation, and harassment through research, education and publication.

Msgr. Rossetti was also instrumental in strengthening the Catholic spirituality and identity of the Institute through an expanded spirituality program for its residents and requesting regular reviews of the Institute by the Archdiocese of Washington.  Archdiocesan reports have consistently praised the work of the Institute.  He has lectured and given workshops to clergy and religious in several countries on spirituality, sexuality, and mental health. He has authored many articles and audiocassette tapes on these issues.

On October 20, Monsignor Rossetti stepped down as the Institute’s President and CEO.  Msgr. Rossetti said, “I am grateful for the wonderful years I have had at Saint Luke Institute. It is a great ministry of grace and healing for our priests and religious.  Nevertheless, after almost 17 years, it is time for me to move on. I am happy to say that I will be joining the faculty at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and teaching in the School of Theology and Religious Studies. I look forward to working with our future priests and being part of their formation.”  [ Press Release announcing departure.]

> Articles, Books and Audiotapes

Monsignor Rossetti: Awards and Honors

April 2010, Houston, TX: Presentation of National Federation of Priests' Councils Touchstone Award.

November 19, 2006, Archdiocese of Washington: Conferral of Papal Honor of Monsignor, rank of Chaplain of His Holiness.

October 2004: Alumnus Lifetime Service Award from Theological College of The Catholic University of America -- (courtesy of Theological College and the
Communications Office of The Catholic University of America)

April 2 - 5, 2003: SLI President Attends Vatican Symposium On Child Abuse

On April 2, 2000: Fr. Rossetti received the Distinguished Priest Award from the John Carroll Society of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. for his significant contribution to health care ministry.

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