Bishop Michael F. Burbidge was installed as the fifth Bishop of the Diocese of Raleigh on August 4, 2006. Prior to being named Bishop by Pope Benedict XVI, Bishop Burbidge was an auxiliary bishop of Philadelphia, where he oversaw the Office of the Vicar for Clergy and the Office of Communications.

Bishop Burbidge was born June 16, 1957, in Philadelphia, PA, the second son of Francis and Shirley Burbidge and brother of Francis Burbidge, Jr. He attended Catholic grade schools, graduated from Cardinal O'Hara High School (Springfield, PA), and attended St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. He was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Philadephia by John Cardinal Krol in 1984.

In Philadelphia he first served as Parochial Vicar of St. Bernard Church, then served on the faculties of Cardinal O'Hara High School, Archbishop Wood High School, and St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, where he was also Dean of Students. He was appointed Administrative Secretary to Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, and served in that capacity until 1999. In 1998 he was made Honorary Prelate to His Holiness Pope John Paul II, with the title of Monsignor. Monsignor Burbidge was appointed Rector of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in 1999. In 2002 he was ordained an auxiliary bishop of Philadelphia.

Bishop Burbidge holds a B.A. in Philosophy and an M.A. in Theology from St. Charles Borromeo, an M.A. in Education Administration from Villanova University, and a doctorate in Education from Immaculata College.

More information about the Bishop, his gospel reflections, and his calendar are on the Catholic Diocese of Raleigh web site.