Elias RIchard Lorenzo, OSB (born October 6, 1960) is an American prelate of the Catholic Church who has served as an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Newark in New Jersey since 2020. Lorenzo was previously the abbot president of the American-Cassinese Congregation of Benedictine monasteries. Lorenzo was the third member of St. Mary's Abbey in Morris Township to hold this position and the first to become a bishop. Biography Early life Elias Lorenzo was born on October 6, 1960, in Brooklyn, New York. He attended St. Agatha Parish Elementary School in Sunset Park, Brooklyn and Cathedral Preparatory School and Seminary in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. He received a Bachelor of Philosophy degree from Don Bosco College in Newton, New Jersey. Lorenzo entered St Mary's Abbey, a Benedictine monastery of the American-Cassinese Congregation in Morris Township, New Jersey, in 1983. Priesthood Lorenzo was ordained a priest of the Benedictine Order by Bishop Frank Rodimer on June 24, 1989. Lorenzo has served in several positions at Delbarton School in Morristown, New Jersey: Secondary teacher and administrator Director of campus ministry Member of board of trustees Chairman of the Religious Studies department Vice president Lorenzo has also served on the advisory board of Operation Smile International, having participated in medical missions to Bolivia, China, Honduras, India, Kenya, Nicaragua, and the Philippines. At St. Mary's Abbey, Lorenzo served as director of liturgy, prior of the abbey and rector of the church. During this same time, he served as a member and chairman of the Paterson Diocesan Liturgical Commission for 12 years. Following his service as prior, Lorenzo was appointed vicar for religious in the Diocese of Metuchen. Thereafter, he worked as canonical counsel for Praesidium, Inc. in the development of national safe environment standards and protocols. He currently serves on Praesidium's advisory board. Lorenzo served as prior of the Primatial Abbey of Saint Anselmo in Rome from 2009 to 2016. In addition, he worked as procurator general for the Benedictine Order in Rome. Lorenzo is a founding member of the International Commission for Benedictine Education and served as its president. In this role, he has visited Benedictine schools throughout the United States, Western Europe, South America, Latin America, Africa, Australia, and the Philippines. In 2016, Lorenzo was elected abbot president of the American Cassinese Congregation, an association of Benedictine monasteries in the United States. As abbot president, Lorenzo was a member of the Union