Contact: Marivi Prado, Chief Marketing Officer, St. Thomas University, 305-474-6880, 305-205-2656 (cell), mprado@stu.edu

MIAMI, April 20 /Christian Newswire/ -- The Vatican announced today a new successor to Miami Archbishop John C. Favalora, naming Bishop Thomas Wenski of the Diocese of Orlando as the Fourth Metropolitan Archbishop of Miami. St. Thomas University, South Florida's only archdiocesan institution of higher learning, welcomes Bishop Wenski back home as he is no stranger to the community at large and to St. Thomas University administration.

"We are very pleased that Pope Benedict the XVI appointed Bishop Thomas Wenski as the new Archbishop of Miami. He is well known by our students, many of whom were his parishioners when he was pastor of Notre Dame d Haiti. He also worked with our faculty and administration at St. Thomas University through his many years in Miami," says President Monsignor Franklyn M. Casale. "He already knows and has witnessed the progress of our University. He served as a member of the Board of Trustees from 1998 to 2003. I have kept him apprised, even as Bishop of Orlando, of the plans and programs of the University and often consult with him on matters pertaining to our institution's many programs. He comes uniquely qualified with so many gifts as a pastor, administrator and with his ability to understand and speak to the many cultures of Miami. I congratulate him on behalf of our University and personally look forward to working closely with him."

St Thomas University is one of the nine Catholic colleges and universities in the country sponsored by the diocese. Archbishop Wenski will become the head of the corporation at St. Thomas University when he takes over as Archbishop June 1, 2010.

Monsignor Casale publicly expressed his gratitude to Archbishop John C. Favalora for the years of dedicated service to the Archdiocese and his constant involvement with St. Thomas University. A key legacy has been the creation of the John C. Favalora's Archives and Museum of South Florida History, housed on the second floor of the STU campus.

St. Thomas University Board of Trustees Chair Gregory Sweinton said he looked forward to working with the new Archbishop. "As an archdiocesan university we have the opportunity to work closely with the Archbishop that is very unique in Catholic higher education. Congratulations, Archbishop Wenski. Together we can continue to ensure St. Thomas University is one of the best Catholic universities in the Southeast."