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WASHINGTON (June 20, 2002) – Pope John Paul II has named the Reverend Monsignor Michael F. Burbidge to be Titular Bishop of Cluain Iraird and Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia.
Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, announced the appointment.
Bishop-elect Burbidge has served as rector of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Overbrook, PA, since 1999.
Michael F. Burbidge was born on June 16, 1957, in Philadelphia.
After attending local elementary schools, he graduated from Cardinal O'Hara High School and then studied at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary.
He was ordained a priest for the Philadelphia Archdiocese on May 19, 1984.
After a parish assignment, Bishop-elect Burbidge served in two archdiocesan high schools and then as dean of formation in the college division of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. From 1992 to 1999, he was administrative assistant to the archbishop.
Bishop-elect Burbidge also served on the archdiocesan seminary admissions board and the priests' personnel board, and he is currently a member of the archdiocesan presbyteral council.
Bishop-elect Burbidge holds master's degrees in theology and administration and education. He also holds a doctorate in education.
Bishop-elect Burbidge was named a prelate of honor to the Pope in 1998 with the title of monsignor.
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia is comprised of the city and county of Philadelphia and four other counties of the state of Pennsylvania. It has a Catholic population of approximately 1.5 million out of a total population of about 3.8 million.