Paul J. Bradley
Encyclopedia
Paul Joseph Bradley is an American
prelate
of the Roman Catholic Church
. He is the fourth and current Bishop of Kalamazoo
.
, Pennsylvania
, to John and Cecilia (née Pater) Bradley. One of nine children, he has one brother and eight sisters; two sisters, Roberta (d. 2006) and Mariella, entered the religious life
. He attended St. Meinrad Seminary
in Indiana
, and earned a Master's in Social Work
from the University of Pittsburgh
. He was ordained
to the priesthood
by Bishop Vincent Leonard on May 1, 1971.
Bradley then served as a parochial vicar
at St. Sebastian Church in North Hills
, at St. Paul Church in Butler
, and at St. Kieran Church in Lawrenceville
. He also served as youth director for the Northwest Deanery
(1973-1975) and family life director for the Butler Deanery (1977-1982). From 1983 to 1988, he was director of the Office for Family Life in the Diocese of Pittsburgh
. He was diocesan
Secretary for Human Services from 1988 to 1994, during which time he also served as co-pastor
with Daniel DiNardo
(later a cardinal) of Madonna del Castello Church in Swissvale
.
In 1994, Bradley became pastor of St. Sebastian Church, which had been his first pastoral assignment. In addition to his role as pastor, he served as dean of the Northwest Deanery from 1998 to 2001. He was named rector
of St. Paul Cathedral
and pastor of the cathedral
parish in January 2001. On November 7, 2003, he was made general secretary and vicar general
of Pittsburgh diocese.
of Pittsburgh and Titular Bishop
of Afufenia by Pope John Paul II
. He received his episcopal consecration
on February 2, 2005 from then-Bishop Donald Wuerl
, with then-Bishop DiNardo and Bishop David Zubik serving as co-consecrators
, at St. Paul Cathedral. His selected as his episcopal motto
: "Waiting in Joyful Hope."
Following the promotion of then-Bishop Wuerl to Archbishop of Washington
in June 2006, he was elected Apostolic Administrator
of the diocese, serving until the installation
of Wuerl’s successor, Bishop Zubik, in September 2007.
, Michigan
, on April 6, 2009. He succeeded the retiring James A. Murray
, and was installed at St. Augustine Cathedral
on June 5, 2009. As Bishop, he serves as the spiritual leader of over 107,000 Catholics in southwestern
Michigan.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. He is the fourth and current Bishop of Kalamazoo
Roman Catholic Diocese of Kalamazoo
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Kalamazoo is a Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the southwestern portion of the State of Michigan that encompasses Allegan, Van Buren, Berrien, Cass, Saint Joseph, Kalamazoo, Branch, Calhoun, and Barry Counties. The Diocese consists of 46 parishes 13 missions,...
.
Early life and ministry
Paul Bradley was born in McKeesportMcKeesport, Pennsylvania
McKeesport is a city in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, in the United States; it is located at the confluence of the Monongahela and Youghiogheny rivers and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The population was 19,731 at the 2010 census...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, to John and Cecilia (née Pater) Bradley. One of nine children, he has one brother and eight sisters; two sisters, Roberta (d. 2006) and Mariella, entered the religious life
Consecrated life (Catholic Church)
In the Roman Catholic Church, the term "consecrated life" denotes a stable form of Christian living by those faithful who feel called to follow Jesus Christ in a more exacting way recognized by the Church...
. He attended St. Meinrad Seminary
Saint Meinrad School of Theology
The Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology is located in Saint Meinrad in southern Indiana and is affiliated with the St. Meinrad Archabbey, which itself is affiliated with Einsiedeln Abbey in Switzerland...
in Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, and earned a Master's in Social Work
Master of Social Work
The Master of Social Work is a master's degree in social workand especiality of sociology.- United States :In the United States, MSW degrees must be received from a graduate school that has been approved by the Council on Social Work Education...
from the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
. He was ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
to the priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
by Bishop Vincent Leonard on May 1, 1971.
Bradley then served as a parochial vicar
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
at St. Sebastian Church in North Hills
North Hills (Pennsylvania)
The North Hills is a term generally used to collectively describe the northern suburbs of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The independent suburban municipalities that are always included in the North Hills are Ross Township, Borough of West View, Shaler Township, West Deer Township, Frazer Township,...
, at St. Paul Church in Butler
Butler, Pennsylvania
The city of Butler is the county seat of Butler County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, situated north of Pittsburgh. The population was 15,121 at the 2000 census.- History :...
, and at St. Kieran Church in Lawrenceville
Lawrenceville (Pittsburgh)
Lawrenceville is one of the largest neighborhoods in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is located northeast of downtown, and like many of Pittsburgh's riverfront neighborhoods, it has an industrial past. Lawrenceville is bordered by the Allegheny River, Polish Hill, Bloomfield, the Strip District and...
. He also served as youth director for the Northwest Deanery
Deanery
A Deanery is an ecclesiastical entity in both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England. A deanery is either the jurisdiction or residence of a Dean.- Catholic usage :...
(1973-1975) and family life director for the Butler Deanery (1977-1982). From 1983 to 1988, he was director of the Office for Family Life in the Diocese of Pittsburgh
Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh is a Roman Catholic diocese. It was established in Western Pennsylvania on August 11, 1843. The diocese includes 211 parishes in the counties of Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Greene, Lawrence, and Washington, an area of with a Catholic population of 719,801...
. He was diocesan
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
Secretary for Human Services from 1988 to 1994, during which time he also served as co-pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
with Daniel DiNardo
Daniel DiNardo
Daniel Nicholas DiNardo is an American cardinal of the Catholic Church. He is the second and current Archbishop of Galveston-Houston, serving since 2006. He previously served as Bishop of Sioux City from 1998 to 2004....
(later a cardinal) of Madonna del Castello Church in Swissvale
Swissvale, Pennsylvania
Swissvale is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, east of downtown Pittsburgh. Named for a farmstead owned by abolitionist and early feminist Jane Swisshelm, during the industrial age it was the site of the Union Switch and Signal Company of George Westinghouse. The population was 8,983 at...
.
In 1994, Bradley became pastor of St. Sebastian Church, which had been his first pastoral assignment. In addition to his role as pastor, he served as dean of the Northwest Deanery from 1998 to 2001. He was named rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of St. Paul Cathedral
Cathedral of Saint Paul in Pittsburgh
The Cathedral of Saint Paul is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States...
and pastor of the cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
parish in January 2001. On November 7, 2003, he was made general secretary and vicar general
Vicar general
A vicar general is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop's ordinary executive power over the entire diocese and, thus, is the highest official in a diocese or other particular...
of Pittsburgh diocese.
Auxiliary Bishop of Pittsburgh
On December 16, 2004, Bradley was appointed Auxiliary BishopAuxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of Pittsburgh and Titular Bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Afufenia by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
. He received his episcopal consecration
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
on February 2, 2005 from then-Bishop Donald Wuerl
Donald Wuerl
Donald William Wuerl is an American cardinal of the Catholic Church. He is the sixth and current Archbishop of Washington, serving since 2006. He previously served as Auxiliary Bishop of Seattle and Bishop of Pittsburgh...
, with then-Bishop DiNardo and Bishop David Zubik serving as co-consecrators
Consecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
, at St. Paul Cathedral. His selected as his episcopal motto
Motto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
: "Waiting in Joyful Hope."
Following the promotion of then-Bishop Wuerl to Archbishop of Washington
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington is a particular church of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. It comprises the District of Columbia and Calvert, Charles, Montgomery, Prince George's and Saint Mary's counties in the state of Maryland....
in June 2006, he was elected Apostolic Administrator
Apostolic Administrator
An apostolic administrator in the Roman Catholic Church is a prelate appointed by the Pope to serve as the ordinary for an apostolic administration...
of the diocese, serving until the installation
Enthronement
An enthronement is a ceremony of inauguration, involving a person—usually a monarch or religious leader—being formally seated for the first time upon their throne. This ritual is generally distinguished from a coronation because there is no crown or other regalia that is physically...
of Wuerl’s successor, Bishop Zubik, in September 2007.
Bishop of Kalamazoo
Bradley was later named the fourth Bishop of KalamazooRoman Catholic Diocese of Kalamazoo
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Kalamazoo is a Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the southwestern portion of the State of Michigan that encompasses Allegan, Van Buren, Berrien, Cass, Saint Joseph, Kalamazoo, Branch, Calhoun, and Barry Counties. The Diocese consists of 46 parishes 13 missions,...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, on April 6, 2009. He succeeded the retiring James A. Murray
James Albert Murray
James Albert Murray is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Kalamazoo from 1998 to 2009.-Biography:...
, and was installed at St. Augustine Cathedral
Cathedral of Saint Augustine in Kalamazoo
St. Augustine Cathedral is the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and the seat of the Bishop of the Diocese of Kalamazoo....
on June 5, 2009. As Bishop, he serves as the spiritual leader of over 107,000 Catholics in southwestern
Michigan.