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Office of the Bishop
Email Bishop Barber
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Bishop Barber Resources
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Consultative Bodies
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The Most Reverend Michael C. Barber, SJ, was ordained to the order of bishop and installed as the fifth bishop of Oakland on May 25, 2013 in the Cathedral of Christ the Light. -
Bishop Barber has deep roots in the East Bay. His father, Adlai Barber, was born in Oakland and his mother, Dolores, in San Francisco. Bishop Barber himself was born in 1954 in Salt Lake City, Utah, during a temporary job assignment for his father. As a child the bishop lived in San Francisco, Novato and Sacramento, graduating from St. Pius X Preparatory School in Galt. He has fond memories of holidays spent with relatives in Oakland, San Leandro and Castro Valley, and of teaching at St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park.Bishop Barber entered the seminary of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in 1973. He received his undergraduate degree from Gonzaga University in Washington, and graduate degrees in theology from Regis College at the University of Toronto and the Gregorian University in Rome.
After being ordained a priest in San Francisco in 1985, Bishop Barber continued his studies in Rome and at Oxford University. In 1991 he became a commissioned officer in the United States Naval Reserve and achieved the rank of Captain in 2012. He has served as Group Chaplain for the Marine Aircraft Group, as Deputy Division Chaplain for the 4th Marine Division and Deputy Force Chaplain for Reserve Affairs for Marine Forces Pacific, among many other assignments.
Locally, Bishop Barber has been Director of the School of Pastoral Leadership in the Archdiocese of San Francisco. From 2002-10 he taught at St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park and was Director of Spiritual Formation there. Immediately prior to his appointment as Bishop of Oakland, he served as Director of Spiritual Formation at St. John’s Seminary in the Archdiocese of Boston. In addition to his native English, the bishop speaks Italian, French, Samoan and liturgical Spanish.
Education
- 1968-72—St. Pius X Prepatory School, Galt
- 1972-73/1975-76—Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles
- 1976-78—Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA
- 1982-85—Regis College, University of Toronto
- 1987-92—Gregorian University, Rome
- 1992-93—University of Oxford, England (Visiting Scholar)
Academic Degrees
- 1978—B.A., History and Philosophy (Gonzaga University)
- 1985—M.Div., S.T.B., cum laude (Regis College, University of Toronto)
- 1989—S.T.L., magna cum laude, Systematic Theology (Gregorian University)
Milestones
- 1973—Entered the Society of Jesus, Jesuit Novitiate, Santa Barbara
- 1985—Ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop John R. Quinn, St. Mary’s Cathedral, San Francisco
- 1991—Commissioned LTJG, US Naval Reserve (USNR), Naples, Italy
- 1992—Promoted to rank of Lieutenant, USNR
- 2000—Promoted to rank of Lieutenant Commander, USNR
- 2005—Invested as a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre
- 2005—Promoted to rank of Commander, USNR
- 2007—Invested as a Magistral Chaplain of the Order of Malta
- 2012—Promoted to rank of Captain, USNR
Ministry and Teaching Positions
- 1977-78—Teacher, Gonzaga Preparatory School, Spokane
- 1978-81—Teacher, Loyola High School, Los Angeles
- 1981-82—Teacher, Xavier High School, Caroline Islands, Micronesia
- 1985-87—Pastor, Falealupo Parish, Western Samoa, Polynesia
- 1990-91—Asst. Professor, Gregorian University
- 1991-92—Reserve Chaplain, US Naval Hospital, Naples, Italy
- 1993-97—Reserve Chaplain, London
- 1994-96—Theology tutor, University of Oxford
- 1996—Instructor, University of London
- 1998-2001—Director, School of Pastoral Leadership, Archdiocese of San Francisco
- 1998-2002—Reserve Chaplain, Marine Expeditionary Force 220, Alameda
- 2001-10—Chaplain, San Francisco Chapter of “Legatus” (Catholic Professional Society)
- 2002-10—Asst. Professor and Director of Spiritual Formation, St. Patrick’s Seminary and University, Menlo Park
- Jan.-Aug. 2003—Group Chaplain, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Air Wing. Active Duty, deployed to Middle East (Operations Noble Eagle and Iraqi Freedom)
- 2003-08—Regimental Chaplain, 23rd Marines 4th MARDIV, San Bruno
- 2004-10—San Quentin State Prison ministerial volunteer
- 2006-10—Chaplain, Order of Malta (San Jose)
- May-July 2008—Command Chaplain, aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis
- June-Aug. 2009—Catholic Chaplain, aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln
- 2008-11—Deputy Division Chaplain, 4th Marine Division, New Orleans
- 2010-13—Director of Spiritual Formation, St. John’s Seminary, Archdiocese of Boston
- June-Aug. 2011—Command Chaplain, US Naval Base Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
- 2011-Present—Deputy Force Chaplain for Reserve Affairs, US Marine Corps Forces Pacific, Camp Smith, Hawaii
Awards and Honors
- Knight of the Holy Sepulchre
- Magistral Chaplain of the Order of Malta
- Meritorious Service Medal (with one Gold Star)
- Navy Commendation Medal (with one Gold Star)
- Navy Achievement Medal
Preceded by Bishop Floyd L. Begin, Bishop Emeritus John S. Cummins,
Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron, Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone.