PITTSBURGH — The Roman Catholic Church has chosen a Pittsburgh-area native to head his hometown diocese, bringing him back from his current post in Wisconsin.

Bishop David Zubik, a former auxiliary bishop of Pittsburgh, is a Sewickley native. His family later moved to Ambridge.

Zubik, ordained in 1975, has held a variety of top posts in the Catholic hierarchy. He has been bishop of Green Bay, Wis., since October 2003 when he was appointed by the late Pope John Paul II.

Zubik will be installed as the bishop of Pittsburgh on Sept. 28 at St. Paul Cathedral in Oakland.

The Rev. Harry Bielewicz, pastor of St. Paul Catholic Church in Butler, said it's good to have a native son return to lead the diocese.

"We're excited," Bielewicz said. "It's been over a year."

Bielewicz said Zubik will bring enthusiasm to the job.

While serving as the auxiliary bishop in Pittsburgh, Zubik confirmed numerous Catholic students in Butler.

"I think this appointment will be greeted with the most amount of happiness in the widest circles in Pittsburgh," Rev. Louis Vallone, pastor of St. John of God parish, in McKees Rocks told a Pittsburgh newspaper.

There are more than 760,000 Catholics in the Pittsburgh area, according to the 2007 Official Catholic Directory.

Zubik has publicly apologized to victims of sexual assault, holding a "prayer service of apology" last fall for those hurt by the church.

A vocal opponent of the death penalty and a supporter of immigration reform, Zubik has called on Catholics to recall the church's teachings on abortion and same-sex marriage when voting.

A 1971 graduate of Duquesne University, Zubik subsequently earned a theology degree at St. Mary Seminary and University in Baltimore.

After being ordained as a priest in May 1975, he served as parochial vicar at Sacred Heart Parish in Shadyside.

In 1980, he was named vice principal of Quigley Catholic High School in Baden as well as chaplain at the Sisters of St. Joseph Motherhouse and Mount Gallitzin Academy.

Zubik earned a master's degree in education administration at Duquesne University in 1982.

In 1988, he was named administrative secretary and master of ceremonies to Wuerl.

Zubik then became the diocesan director of clergy personnel in 1991.

After serving in subsequent posts, Zubik in April 1997 was ordained an auxiliary bishop for the Pittsburgh diocese and titular bishop of Jamestown, N.D.

Zubik stated in a diocesan press release that he's glad to return home. "I love the people of Pittsburgh," Zubik stated in a news release. "It is a wonderful church — very much alive in Christ."

Zubik succeeds Archbishop Donald Wuerl, who was installed as archbishop of Washington in June 2006.

Bishop Paul Bradley has served as administrator of the diocese since Wuerl's departure.