Early life

Michael Saporito was born on May 3, 1962, in Newark, New Jersey to Arsenio and Anna Saporito.^[1] He was educated at St. Thomas the Apostle Elementary School in Bloomfield, New Jersey, then attended Paul VI Regional High School in Clifton, New Jersey. After graduating from high school in 1980, Saporito attended Rutgers University Newark He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in accounting in 1984.^[1]

Before he decided to enter the priesthood, Saporito worked in public accounting. In 1987, he entered Immaculate Conception Seminary at Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey.^[1]

Priesthood

On May 30, 1992, Saporito was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Newark by Archbishop Theodore McCarrick at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark, New Jersey.^[2]

After his 1992 ordination, the diocese assigned Saporito as parochial vicar at the following New Jersey parishes:

• St. Joseph in West Orange (1992 to 1994)
• St. Peter the Apostle in River Edge (1994 to 1999)
• Our Lady of the Visitation in Paramus (1999 to 2001)
• St. Elizabeth in Wyckoff (2001 to 2004)^[3]

In 2004, Saporito was selected as pastor of St. Joseph’s parish in Maplewood, New Jersey. He left St. Joseph's in 2011 to become pastor of St. Helen’s Parish in Westfield, New Jersey.^[3]

Auxiliary Bishop of Newark

Pope Francis appointed Saporito as an auxiliary bishop of Newark on February 27, 2020.^{[4] [3]} Saporito's consecration as a bishop, originally scheduled for May 5, 2020, but postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, occurred on June 30, 2020. He was consecrated by Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, with Auxiliary Bishops Manuel Cruz, and John Flesey serving as co-consecrators.^[2]