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USCCB News Release
09-005
January 19, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Pope Names Pittsburgh Seminary Rector, Msgr. Edward J. Burns, Bishop of Juneau, Alaska
WASHINGTON—Pope Benedict XVI named Msgr. Edward J. Burns, 51, Rector of St. Paul's Seminary in Pittsburgh, as Bishop of Juneau, Alaska.
The appointment was announced in Washington, January 19, by Archbishop Pietro Sambi, apostolic nuncio to the United States.
Bishop-elect Burns succeeds Bishop Michael Warfel, who headed the Juneau Diocese before he was named Bishop of Great Falls-Billings, Montana, in January, 2008.
Edward Burns, son of Donald and Geraldine Burns, was born October 7, 1957, in Pittsburgh. He graduated from Lincoln High School, Ellwood City, Pennsylvania and Duquesne University in Pittsburgh where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy and Sociology. He then earned a Master of Divinity degree and a Master of Arts degree in theology from Mt. St. Mary Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland.
He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Pittsburgh on June 25, 1983. He was named a Chaplain to His Holiness, May 16, 2006.
Assignments after ordination included Parochial Vicar, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Burgettstown, Pennsylvania, 1983-1988; Parochial Vicar, Immaculate Conception Parish, Washington, Pennsylvania, 1988-1991; Director, Office for Vocations, Diocese of Pittsburgh, 1991-1996; Vice-Rector and Prefect of Studies, St. Paul's Seminary, Pittsburgh; 1991-1996; Director of Spiritual Formation, 1993-1996; Director, Department of Pre-Ordination Formation; Department of Clergy and Ministerial Formation; Office for the Diaconate, 1996-1999; Rector, St. Paul's Seminary, 1996-1999; Director, Department of Clergy Personnel, 1997-1999; Executive Director, Secretariat for Vocations and Priestly Formation, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 1999-2008; and Director, Department of Pre-Ordination Formation; Office for Vocations and Rector, St. Paul's Seminary, 2008-2009.
The Juneau Diocese includes 37,566 square miles. The total population of the diocese is estimated at 74,000 people, with 5,143, or eight percent, of them Catholic.