Edward J. Burns

His Excellency, The Most Reverend

Edward James Burns
Bishop of Dallas
Burns in 2019
ChurchCatholic
DioceseDallas
AppointedDecember 13, 2016
InstalledFebruary 9, 2017
PredecessorKevin Farrell
Orders
OrdinationJune 25, 1983
by Vincent Leonard
ConsecrationMarch 3, 2009
by David Zubik, Roger Schwietz, and Donald Wuerl
Personal details
Born (1957-10-07) October 7, 1957 (age 66)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Previous post(s)
  • Bishop of Juneau (2009‍–‍2017)
Education
MottoPray with confidence
Styles of
Edward James Burns
Reference style
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleBishop

Edward James Burns (born October 7, 1957) is an American prelate of the Catholic Church who has served as bishop of the Diocese of Dallas in Texas since 2017. He previously served as bishop of the Diocese of Juneau in Alaska from 2009 to 2017.

Before becoming a bishop, Burns spent nine years working for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). As bishop, he has served as chair of the Committee on the Protection of Children and Young People and as a member of its Subcommittee on Catholic Home Missions. He speaks Spanish as well as English.[1]

Biography

Early life and education

Edward James Burns was born on October 7, 1957, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Donald and Geraldine (née Little) Burns. He has a brother, Robert. He attended Lincoln High School in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania. He then entered Saint Paul Seminary at Duquesne University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy and sociology.

Burns also earned a Master of Divinity degree and a Master of Theology degree from Mount St. Mary's Seminary at Mount St. Mary's University in Emmitsburg, Maryland.[2]

Ordination and ministry

Burns was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Pittsburgh by Bishop Vincent Leonard on June 25, 1983. After his ordination, Burns served as parochial vicar at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania and Immaculate Conception Parish in Washington, Pennsylvania. In 1991, Burns was named as vocations director and vice-rector of St. Paul Seminary, becoming its rector in 1996.[3]

Burns served as executive director of the Secretariat for Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations in the USCCB for nine years, beginning in 1999. His office produced a DVD titled Fishers of Men, a documentary on the lives of priests. Burns published a booklet, We Were There, that described the experiences of priests who served at the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

In 2002, Burns was named as co-chair of a Vatican-ordered congress on vocations in North America. From 2005 to 2006, he provided support for a Vatican review of all Catholic seminaries in the U.S.[4] Burns received the title of monsignor from the Vatican in 2006.[1] In 2008, he returned to his posts as rector of St. Paul Seminary and vocations director for the diocese.

Bishop of Juneau

Coat of Arms as Bishop of Juneau

On January 19, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Burns as the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Juneau.[4] He received his episcopal consecration on March 3, 2009, at St. Paul Cathedral in Pittsburgh from Bishop David Zubik, with Archbishop Roger Schweitz and then-Archbishop Donald Wuerl serving as co-consecrators; this was separate from his installation ceremony for the convenience of friends in the Continental United States, because of the distance to Alaska. He chose as his episcopal motto, "Pray with Confidence".[5] He was installed in Juneau on April 2, 2009.

Bishop of Dallas

On December 13, 2016, Pope Francis appointed Burns as the eighth bishop of the Diocese of Dallas, to succeed then bishop Kevin Farrell.[6]

His installation was on February 9, 2017, at the Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe in Dallas.[7]

On August 18, 2018, Burns informed parishioners at St. Cecilia Parish in Dallas that their pastor, Edmundo Paredes, had been removed from ministry in 2017 because of verified allegations of child sexual abuse and the theft of parish funds. The diocese had immediately reported Paredes to law enforcement, but he fled the country before he could be arrested.[8]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Edward James Burns.

References

  1. ^ a b Brockhaus, Hannah (December 13, 2016). "Juneau bishop to head Dallas diocese". CRUX. Catholic News Agency. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
  2. ^ "Bishops of the Catholic Diocese of Dallas: Most Reverend Edward J. Burns: Curriculum Vitae". Catholic Diocese of Dallas. Roman Catholic Diocese of Dallas. Archived from the original on July 13, 2019. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
  3. ^ "Bishops of the Catholic Diocese of Dallas". Catholic Diocese of Dallas. Archived from the original on July 13, 2019. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  4. ^ a b Rodgers, Ann (January 20, 2009). "Local priest appointed bishop of Juneau, Alaska". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on December 20, 2018. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
  5. ^ Rodgers, Ann (March 4, 2009). "Burns ordained here as bishop in Alaska". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
  6. ^ Farmer, Liz (December 13, 2016). "Pope picks bishop from Alaska to lead Diocese of Dallas". Dallas News. Archived from the original on May 11, 2019. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
  7. ^ "Pope Francis Appoints New Bishop for the Diocese of Dallas". NBC DFW. December 13, 2016. Archived from the original on May 11, 2019. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
  8. ^ "Bishop Burns tells St. Cecilia parishioners of sexual abuse and financial allegations against former pastor". The Texas Catholic. Retrieved March 24, 2022.

External links

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Bishop of Dallas
2017–present 		Incumbent
Preceded by Bishop of Juneau
2009–2017 		Succeeded by