Background
Michael Burbidge was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Francis and Shirley (née Lilley) Burbidge. He has a brother, Francis.
Michael Burbidge was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Francis and Shirley (née Lilley) Burbidge. He has a brother, Francis.
He graduated from Cardinal O"Hara High School in Springfield in 1975, and then entered Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, from where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Master of Arts
Early life and education
in Theology. Ordination and ministry
Burbidge was ordained to the priesthood by John Cardinal Krol on May 19, 1984. He then served as parochial vicar at Saint Bernard"s Church in Philadelphia until 1986, and taught at Cardinal O"Hara High School from 1986 to 1990.
From 1990 to 1991, Burbidge served on the faculty of Archbishop Wood High School in Warminster, becoming Dean of Students at Saint Charles Seminary in 1991.
He was Administrative Secretary to Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua from 1992 to 1999, and was raised to the rank of Honorary Prelate of His Holiness in 1998. In 1999, he was named rector of Saint Charles Seminary.
He also holds a Master of Arts in Education Administration from Villanova University and a doctorate in education from Immaculata University. Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia
On June 21, 2002, Burbidge was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia and Titular Bishop of Cluain Iraird by Pope John Paul World War II He received his episcopal consecration on the following September 5 from Cardinal Bevilacqua, with Bishops Edward Cullen and Robert Maginnis serving as co-consecrators.
As an auxiliary, Burbidge worked in the Archdiocesan Office Center to assist the Archbishop with administrative duties, including overseeing the Office of the Vicar for Clergy, Office of Communications, and The Catholic Standard & Times.
He also served as a regional bishop. Bishop of Raleigh
Burbidge was later named Bishop of Raleigh, North Carolina, by Pope Benedict XVI on June 8, 2006. Replacing Bishop Francis Gossman, he was formally installed on the following August 4.
His Cathedral is Raleigh"s Sacred Heart Cathedral.
Burbidge has announced the building of a new Cathedral for the Diocese of Raleigh, to be called the Cathedral of the Holy Name of Jesus. Building work will commence in 2013.
Ground breaking for the new cathedral is expected in mid 2014, with completion expected in 2 1/2 years.