Cardinal Wuerl Appoints Kim Viti Fiorentino as Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Washington

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Cardinal Donald Wuerl, archbishop of Washington, has appointed Kim Viti Fiorentino as Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Washington, effective September 19, 2016. Kim will assume the role of Chancellor in addition to her duties as General Counsel and will serve as a member of the Administrative Board which advises Cardinal Wuerl on issues affecting policy and pastoral practices within the Archdiocese.

Canonically, the role of Chancellor includes the responsibility to ensure the acts of the curia are gathered, arranged and safeguarded in the archive of the curia. This duty also automatically makes the Chancellor a notary and secretary of the curia. In the Archdiocese of Washington, the Chancellor’s responsibilities have evolved and grown to include the additional responsibilities of providing counsel to the Archbishop on matters of public policy, serving as a corporate member on all archdiocesan affiliated corporations, and directing special projects and initiatives. In addition, as General Counsel, Kim will oversee the staff of the Office of General Counsel.

Kim Viti Fiorentino was a senior partner of the law firm of Shulman, Rogers, Gandal, Pordy & Ecker. She served in private practice for 27 years and possesses significant experience in litigation, risk analysis, trial practice, mediation and arbitration.  Her long litigation career has involved not only business issues, but also litigation related to guardianship law, trusts and estates and property disputes and family matters. Kim served on her Firm’s Board of Directors and, for nearly 18 years, also served as the firm’s Pro Bono Coordinator.  Kim was appointed by the courts in more than 75 cases to serve as the guardian of the property for elderly and disabled adults as well as children in need of assistance.

Kim is a 1983 graduate of the University of Virginia, where she received a B.A. in History and French, with distinction.  She received her law degree from the George Washington University Law School in 1989.

Kim is married to Lou Fiorentino and they reside in Potomac, Maryland, where they are parishioners at Our Lady of Mercy Church.  There, Kim has served on the parish council, is a founding member of the Parish Collaboration Project with the Langley Park Catholic Community, and volunteers at a community food pantry. She has served on the RCIA team, as a Landings facilitator, and is a Eucharistic minister and lector.  Kim is also a member of the Board of Governors of the John Carroll Society, chair of its Communications and Public Outreach Committee and editor of the Carroll Citizen newspaper.

Kim is an advocate and expert on mental health issues. She was a member of the Board of Directors of the Mental Health Association of Montgomery County and served as its President.   She is also involved in Mercy Health Clinic and chaired their fundraising gala at the Embassy of Italy for three years.   Kim is a 2003 graduate of the prestigious Leadership Montgomery Program.

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The Archdiocese of Washington is home to over 620,000 Catholics, 139 parishes and 95 Catholic schools, located in Washington, D.C., and five Maryland counties: Calvert, Charles, Montgomery, Prince George’s and St. Mary’s.

Contact:
Chieko Noguchi
301-853-4516
[email protected]