Bishop of Arlington
Bishop Michael Francis Burbidge, Bishop of Arlington, was born on 16 June 1957 in Philadelphia, in the archdiocese of the same name. After attending Cardinal O'Hara High School in Springfield, he carried out ecclesiastical studies at Saint Charles Borromeo Archdiocesan Seminary in 1976-1984. He subsequently obtained a master's degree in education administration from Villanova University in 1994 and a doctorate in pedagogy from Immaculata College in 1999. He was ordained priest on 19 May 1984 for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. After priestly ordination, he held the following offices: parish vicar of Saint Bernard Parish in Philadelphia from 1984 to 1986; chaplain and teacher at Cardinal O'Hara High School in Springfield from 1986 to 1990 and Archbishop Wood High School in Warminster from 1990 to 1991; dean of students at the archdiocesan seminary from 1991 to 1992; administrative secretary of the Archbishop of Philadelphia from 1992 to 1999; and rector of Saint Charles Archdiocesan Seminary from 1999 to 2004. In 1998 he was named Prelate of Honour of His Holiness. Appointed titular Bishop of Cluain Iraird and Auxiliary of Philadelphia on 21 July 2002, he received episcopal consecration on the following 5 September. As Auxiliary of Philadelphia he was entrusted with various curial offices and a region of the archdiocese. He was also archdiocesan consultor, member of the presbyteral council, and member of the Priests Personnel Board. He was appointed Bishop of Raleigh on 8 June 2006. Within the Episcopal Conference he is a member of the Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations, the Subcommitte on the Catechism, and the Audit Subcommittee. For the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity he is co-chair of the Pentecostal-Catholic International Dialogue. Besides English, he knows Spanish.