Michael William Fisher | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Buffalo | |
| Diocese | Buffalo |
| Appointed | December 1, 2020 |
| Installed | January 15, 2021 |
| Predecessor | Richard Joseph Malone |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | June 23, 1990 by James Aloysius Hickey |
| Consecration | June 29, 2018 by Donald Wuerl, Barry C. Knestout, and Mario E. Dorsonville |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 3, 1958 |
| Previous post(s) |
|
| Motto | In Faithfulness and love |
| Styles of Michael William Fisher | |
|---|---|
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| Reference style | |
| Spoken style | Your Excellency |
| Religious style | Bishop |
Michael William Fisher (born March 3, 1958) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who currently serves as the bishop of the Diocese of Buffalo, having been installed on January 15, 2021. He previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Washington.
Biography
Early life
Michael Fisher was born on March 3, 1958, in Baltimore, Maryland, the eldest of five children. As a child, he was a newspaper deliverer for the Baltimore Sun and later worked at a gas station.[1]
Fisher attended Baltimore Polytechnic Institute high school and is an Eagle Scout. He later earned a bachelor of science (B.S.) in business administration and accounting at the University of Maryland in 1984.[2] Fisher worked as a comptroller for a psychiatric practice in Bethesda, Maryland, before entering seminary at Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland, in 1986.
Priesthood
Fisher was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Washington by Cardinal James A. Hickey on June 23, 1990. Fisher worked as a priest at Sacred Heart Parish in La Plata, Maryland, as pastor of Holy Family Parish in Hillcrest Heights, Maryland, in 1995, and as pastor at St. John Neumann Parish in Gaithersburg, Maryland, in 1999. Fisher was named a chaplain to His Holiness by Pope John Paul II in 2005.[2]
In 2005, then-Archbishop Theodore McCarrick appointed Fisher vicar general for the apostolates, in which role he oversaw the archdiocesan ministries for education, ethnic ministries, social justice and service, parish life and youth ministry. In 2006, Cardinal Donald Wuerl appointed Fisher as vicar for clergy and secretary for ministerial leadership.
Fisher has served on various archdiocesan boards and committees, including the College of Consultors, the Priest Council, the Administrative Board, the Priest Retirement Board, the Clergy Personnel Board, the Deacon Review Board, the Deacon Council, the Needy Parish Committee, and the Forward in Faith Committee.[2]
Auxiliary bishop of Washington
Pope Francis appointed Fisher as an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Washington on June 8, 2018.[3][4] Fisher was consecrated by Cardinal Wuerl on June 29, 2018.[5]
Fisher's coat of arms as an auxiliary referenced those of several past archbishops. The colors of red and gold were used in the coats of arms of Archbishops Hickey, McCarrick, and Wuerl. The line embattled and red crosses reference the tower embattled and red cross in Wuerl's coat of arms. The lion, in addition to representing Fisher's patron saint, Mark the Evangelist, references the lion on Hickey's coat of arms.[2]
Bishop of Buffalo
On December 1, 2020, Francis named Fisher as Bishop of the Diocese Buffalo.[6][7] Regarding the sex abuse allegations against priests in the diocese, Fisher made this statement:
“Trust has been broken. Because of the clergy abuse, as well as other things. I really feel we need to rebuild that trust through our actions. Part of that will be looking out for those who are vulnerable and in need of our healing. I want to be part of the healing process.”[8]
Fisher's installation occurred on January 15, 2021.[9]
See also
References
- ↑ "Who is Bishop Michael William Fisher, the new leader of Buffalo's Catholic diocese?". WKBW. January 15, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
- 1 2 3 4 "Auxiliary Bishops". Archdiocese of Washington website. Archived from the original on November 2, 2020. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
- ↑ "Pope Francis Names New Auxiliary Bishops of Rockville Centre and Washington". Retrieved June 8, 2018.
- ↑ "Cardinal Wuerl's Statement on Pope Francis Naming Monsignor Michael W. Fisher as Auxiliary Bishop for Archdiocese of Washington". Retrieved June 8, 2018.
- ↑ "Pope Francis names Msgr. Michael Fisher as new auxiliary bishop of Washington". Retrieved June 8, 2018.
- ↑ McShea, Keith (December 1, 2020). "Pope appoints Michael William Fisher 15th Bishop of Diocese of Buffalo". Buffalo News. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
- ↑ "Pope appoints new Bishop for Buffalo, USA". Vatican News. December 1, 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
- ↑ Reporter, Jay Tokasz News Staff (December 2020). "'Trust has been broken': Hope, skepticism greet new Buffalo bishop". The Buffalo News. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
- ↑ Erbacher, Megan (December 1, 2020). "Pope Francis appoints Michael William Fisher new bishop for Diocese of Buffalo". WKBW. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
External links
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo Official Site
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington Official Site
