Appointed:                          March 23, 2009
Installed:                             May 5, 2009
Appointed Archbishop
of San Francisco:              July 27, 2011

Bishop Salvatore Joseph Cordileone was born in San Diego, California, on June 5, 1956, the second of Leon and Mary Cordileone’s two sons and third of their four children. Following Sicilian tradition, his name reflects his family.  His paternal grandfather was a fisherman in Sicily; his maternal grandfather, Salvatore, came from a farming family in Sicily; and his paternal uncle Joe was lost in World War II.

Bishop Cordileone’s father Leon was born in San Francisco and the family moved to San Diego when he was four years old.  He worked with his three brothers in the family commercial fishing business and later bought his own albacore fishing boat.  He also served in the Navy during the Second World War.

His mother Mary was born and raised in Buffalo, New York, the oldest of four sisters.  She came to San Diego in March of 1947 and the rest of her family moved there in October of the same year.  His parents met in San Diego and married on November 13, 1949.

The family grew up in Blessed Sacrament Parish in San Diego.  Cordileone attended public grammar and high school and was an active participant in parish after-school religion classes and his high school music program, playing in the concert band, marching band and stage band.

In December of 1974, during his first year of college and with encouragement from a young parish priest he respected, Cordileone attended a seminary vocation retreat.  It was during this first year at San Diego State that Cordileone discerned his call to the Priesthood and entered St. Francis Seminary, transferring as a sophomore to the University of San Diego.

Cordileone graduated three years later in 1978 with a B.A. in Philosophy.  He was accepted to study in Rome and continued in the seminary at the Pontifical North American College.  He received the Bachelors Degree in Sacred Theology in 1981 from the Pontifical Gregorian University and then returned to be ordained a priest in San Diego and begin his first pastoral assignment.

On July 9, 1982, Bishop Leo T. Maher ordained the Reverend Salvatore Cordileone.  Soon thereafter he took up his assignment as associate pastor at St. Martin of Tours Parish in La Mesa, where he remained for three years.  In 1985 he was again sent to Rome, this time to study the new Code of Canon Law.  He spent the next four years again at the Gregorian University, completing his doctorate.

Upon Father Cordileone’s return to San Diego in 1989, he became secretary to Coadjutor Bishop Robert Brom and a year later became adjutant judicial vicar.  Pastoral work called to him again in 1991 and Father Cordileone accepted appointment as pastor of Calexico’s Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, four blocks from the Mexican border.

In 1995 he was called to Rome and for the next seven years served as assistant at the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, the Church’s highest canonical court.

On July 5, 2002 Pope John Paul II appointed him Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of San Diego and he was ordained bishop on August 21, 2002 by Bishop Brom.  In addition to serving on the various consultative bodies of the Diocese during his years as auxiliary of San Diego, Bishop Cordileone also chaired the Corporate Board of Catholic Charities and was a member of the University of. San Diego Board of Trustees, serving on its Academic Affairs and Mission and Vision Committees.

On March 23, 2009 Pope Benedict XVI appointed Bishop Cordileone to be Fourth Bishop of Oakland.  His Mass of Installation in the Diocese of Oakland was celebrated on May 5, 2009 at the Cathedral of Christ the Light.

Bishop Cordileone chairs the Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage and sits on the Committee for Canonical Affairs and Church Governance, both of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB.)  He also serves on the Religious Liberties Committee of the California Catholic Conference.

He is a member of the following boards:  Board of Trustees, Catholic University of America; Governing Board of the International Theological Institute; Subcommission on the Liturgy for the Anglican Ordinariates; Oakland Police Foundation.

Bishop Cordileone’s avocations include a life-long interest in jazz music.  Even during his seminary studies in Rome he played his alto saxophone in a jazz quintet, and continues to follow the music.  He also enjoys swimming and spectator sports, especially professional baseball and football.  He has not, though, declared his regional team preferences.

Education

1968-1971 – Horace Mann Junior High School, San Diego
1971-74 – Crawford High School, San Diego
1974-75 – San Diego State University
1975-78 – St. Francis Seminary, University of San Diego
1978-82, 1985-89 – Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome

Academic Degrees

1978 – B.A. Philosophy (University of San Diego)
1981 – S.T.B. Theology (Pontifical Gregorian University)
1989 – Doctor of Canon Law (Pontifical Gregorian University)

Milestones

July 9, 1982 – Ordination to the Priesthood
November, 1999 – Named Chaplain of His Holiness with title of Monsignor
August 21, 2002 – Episcopal Ordination
May 5, 2009 – Installation as Ordinary, Diocese of Oakland
July 27, 2012 - Appointed Archbishop, Archdiocese of San Francisco

Ministerial Assignments

1982-85 – Associate Pastor, St. Martin of Tours Parish, La Mesa, CA
1985-89 – Canon Law Studies, Gregorian University, Rome
1989-90 – Secretary to Bishop Brom; Tribunal Judge
1990-91 – Adjutant Judicial Vicar
1991-95 – Pastor, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Calexico, CA
1995-02 – Assistant, Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, Rome
2002-09 – Auxiliary Bishop of San Diego
2009-2012 –  Bishop of the Diocese of Oakland

Archives
2012 Pilgrimage to India
2012 Ad Limina Visit (Diocese of Oakland)

Preceded by:  Bishop Floyd L. Begin, Bishop Emeritus John S. Cummins, Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron

Succeeded by:  Bishop Michael C. Barber, SJ

Appointed Coadjutor:                    January 10, 2003
Installed:                                          February 26, 2003
Succeeded Bishop Cummins:     October 1, 2003
Appointed Abp. of Detroit:           January 5, 2009

Allen Henry Vigneron was born in Mount Clemens, Michigan, on October 21, 1948, to Elwin and Bernadine (Kott) Vigneron of Fair Haven. The eldest of six children (four brothers, one sister), he grew up in Immaculate Conception Parish, Anchorville, attending the parish grade school through eighth grade.

With encouragement from his parents, family, grade school principal and pastor, Allen entered the high school program of Sacred Heart Seminary, Detroit, in September 1962. After completing the 12th grade, he continued there for college. In June 1970, he graduated with his B.A. degree with majors in both philosophy and classical languages.

Upon graduation, he was sent to Rome to continue his theological education at the Pontifical Gregorian University. He lived at the North American College, a house of formation for seminarians from the United States. He earned an S.T.B. (Bachelor of Sacred Theology) degree in 1973, and in 1974 returned home to serve his transitional deacon internship at St. Clement of Rome Parish in Romeo.

Deacon Vigneron was ordained to the priesthood in the Detroit Presbyterate on July 26, 1975, at St. Clement of Rome by the late Cardinal John Dearden. His first assignment was as associate pastor of Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, Harper Woods. He returned to Rome in 1976 for a year of study to complete the work required for his S.T.L. (Licentiate in Sacred Theology) degree, which he earned from the Gregorian University in 1977. Later that year, Father Vigneron returned to Michigan to resume his duties as associate pastor of Our Lady Queen of Peace.

Cardinal Dearden assigned Father Vigneron to begin graduate studies in the School of Philosophy at the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., in the fall of 1979.

He earned his M.A. in philosophy in 1983 and his Ph.D. in May 1987 with a dissertation on the German philosopher Edmund Husserl, the father of phenomenology.  In January 1985, before completing his dissertation, Father Vigneron returned to Detroit to teach philosophy and theology at Sacred Heart Seminary. In January 1988, he was appointed dean of that college and became a key member of the team working to realize Cardinal Edmund Szoka's vision for the transformation of the institution into a "major seminary" offering graduate theological education.

In the fall of 1991, Father Vigneron returned to Rome to serve as an official of the Administrative Section of the Vatican Secretariat of State. He was an adjunct instructor at the Gregorian University. In the spring of 1994, he returned to Detroit to become the second rector-president of the re-founded Sacred Heart Major Seminary. At that time, he was named a Prelate of Honor (Monsignor) by the late Pope John Paul II.

On June 12, 1996, Monsignor Vigneron was named an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Detroit by the Holy Father; he received his episcopal ordination from Cardinal Adam Maida, Archbishop of Detroit, on July 9. In addition to his responsibilities as seminary rector, Bishop Vigneron was given responsibility for the pastoral support of the Northeast Region of the Detroit Archdiocese. On January 10, 2003, he was named Coadjutor Bishop of Oakland, California, and succeeded to the See of Oakland on October 1, 2003.

Bishop Vigneron oversaw the design and construction of the new 1,350-seat Cathedral of Christ the Light situated in a complex that includes Chancery offices, conference center facilities, a healing garden dedicated to those abused by clergy, a bookstore, and a public plaza located adjacent to Lake Merritt in downtown Oakland. The cathedral was dedicated for sacred use on September 25, 2008.

Following his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI, Bishop Vigneron returned to Detroit, and on January 5, 2009, was introduced as the next chief shepherd of the local Roman Catholic Church. With his installation as the fifth Archbishop of Detroit, he becomes Metropolitan Archbishop for the Province of Detroit (the seven dioceses of Michigan) and Chairman of the Michigan Catholic Conference. He also will serve as Chairman of the Board of Sacred Heart Major Seminary and SS. Cyril & Methodius Seminary in Orchard Lake, and Publisher of The Michigan Catholic newspaper.

Professional Affiliations: Archbishop Vigneron is a trustee of the National Catholic Bioethics Center and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of The Catholic University of America.

In the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Archbishop Vigneron is a member of the Doctrine Committee and the Subcommittee on Catechism. He also serves on the USCCB Ad Hoc Committee for the Defense of Marriage.

Preceded by:  Bishop Floyd L. Begin, Bishop Emeritus John S. Cummins

Succeeded by:  Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone, Bishop Michael C. Barber, SJ

Appointed Coadjutor:            May 3, 1977
Installed:                                  June 30, 1977
Retired:                                    Octover 1, 2003

Bishop John Stephen Cummins was born (1928) and raised in Berkeley, California, the second son of Michael and Mary Cummins, both natives of Ireland. His sister, Mary McCarthy, still lives in the family home. His older brother, Monsignor Bernard A. Cummins, was Superintendent of Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of San Francisco until his death in 1974.

Bishop Cummins was ordained to the priesthood on January 24, 1953 at St. Mary’s Cathedral in San Francisco. His first assignment was as Associate Pastor at Mission Dolores Basilica in San Francisco. He also served as Campus Minister (Newman Club) at San Francisco State University until he was transferred to Bishop O’Dowd High School, as faculty member, in 1957.

In 1962, while at O’Dowd, Father Cummins was named the first Chancellor of the newly created Diocese of Oakland. While serving as chancellor, Monsignor Cummins also served as the diocesan liaison to the three Catholic theological schools entering the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley.

In February, 1971, he was appointed Executive Director of the California Catholic Conference of Bishops in Sacramento. On May 16, 1974 he was ordained Bishop and Auxiliary to Bishop Alden Bell in Sacramento.

Upon the death of Bishop Floyd L. Begin, founding bishop of the Diocese of Oakland, Bishop Cummins was appointed the second Bishop of Oakland and installed on June 30, 1977.

Education, Degrees and Committees

St. Joseph’s College, Mountain View, 1941-1947

St. Patrick’s Seminary, Menlo Park, 1947-1953, B.A. M. Div.

Graduate Studies in History, University of California, Berkeley

National Conference of Catholic Bishops (NCCB)

1981-1984: Chair, Liturgy Committee

1988-1991: Chair, Laity Committee

1992-present: Liaison, Federation of Asian Bishops Conference, Hong Kong

1992-1995: Co-chair, R.C. Presbyterian/Reformed Dialogue

1992-1995: Consultant, Ecumenical & Religious Committee

1992-1995: Member, Science & Human Values Committee

1995-1998: Chair, Migration & Refugee Services

1995-1999: Chair, CLINIC (Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc.)

United States Catholic Conference (USCC)

1995-1999 Member, Administrative Board

1996-1999 Member, International Policy Committee

CALIFORNIA CATHOLIC CONFERENCE (CCC)

Executive Director 1971-1977

President 1988-1997

Other

Delegate: Synod of the Americas in Rome - 1997

Delegate: Asian Synod in Rome -1998

Delegate: IV Congress on Pastoral Care of Migrants – 1998

 

Preceded by:  Bishop Floyd L. Begin

Succeeded by:  Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron, Archishop Salvatore J. Cordileone, Bishop Michael C. Barber, SJ

 

Of Norman French and Scotch ancestry, Floyd Begin was born in Cleveland, OH, on February 5, 1902.  He was raised and educated Catholic and was the first valedictorian of Cleveland’s Cathedral Latin High School in 1920.  He attended Saint John’s College, a preparatory seminary and later the North American College in Rome.  On July 27, 1927, he was ordained a priest by Bishop Ignatius Dubrowski.

Continuing his education he received doctorates in sacred theology and philosophy and in 1930 was awarded the degree of Doctor of Canon Law from Apollinaris College in Rome.  Within a few years after his return from Italy, Father Begin was appointed secretary to Bishop Joseph Schrembs and assistant chancellor in Cleveland. In 1934 Pope Pius XI designated the young priest a Papal Chamberlain (Monsignor) and two years later elevated him to the rank of Domestic Prelate.

He was also appointed secretary to the National Eucharistic Congress of the United States and within the next few years became vice-chancellor, officialis, and vicar general.

On March 22, 1947, Pope Pius XII appointed Msgr. Begin as Auxiliary Bishop of Cleveland, OH.  Msgr. Begin was ordained Bishop of the Titular See of Sala (Sardi), Turkey, on May 1, 1947.

In January of 1962, Pope John XXIII established the Diocese of Oakland from the eastern portion of the San Francisco Archdiocese.  Bishop Begin was appointed as the Ordinary of the new Diocese on January 27, 1962.  He was installed as Bishop of the Diocese on Saturday, April 28, 1962, at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral.  The installing prelate was the Most Reverend Edigio Vagnozzi, titular Archbishop of Myra and Apostolic Delegate to the United States.  Archbishop Joseph T. McGucken was present in his capacity as Metropolitan of the Archieposcopal Province of San Francisco.  The Oakland Tribune reported on Bishop Begin's opening address, stating:

He requested that his followers join him in making "the love of God and love of neighbor" the theme song of their lives.  He said that Catholics should so put God first in their lives that He and we shall know that we love Him above everything else, that we belong to Him completely and irrevocably.

On Sunday, April 29th, Bishop Begin offered a Solemn Pontifical High Mass in the Cathedral.  That evening there was a welcoming testimonial dinner for the new bishop held at the Oakland Kaiser Center.  The next day Bishop Begin took over the administrative offices, located at a rented property on West Grand Avenue, naming the officials for the Diocese.

Bishop Begin was a Council Father at all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council.

On May 2, 1975 Bishop Begin ordained Rev. Clarence Richard Silva to the Presbyterate.  Rev. Silva was subsequently ordained bishop of the Diocese of Honolulu, Hawai'i.  He was also the principle co-consecrator of the following:

• †John Francis Cardinal Dearden (May 18, 1948)
• †John Joseph Cardinal Krol (September 2, 1953)
• †Archbishop John Francis Whealon (July 6, 1961)
• †Bishop Clarence Edward Elwell (December 26, 1962)
• Bishop John Stephen Cummins (May 16, 1974)

During his tenure as bishop of Oakland, the following parishes were established:

• Our Lady, Queen of the World, West Pittsburg (August 28, 1962)
• St. Agnes, Concord (November 1, 1964)
• St. Charles, Livermore (June 10, 1964)
• Good Shepherd, Pittsburg (May 20, 1965)
• St. Anne, Walnut Creek ( July 10, 1965)
• St. John Vianney, Walnut Creek (May 20, 1965)
• St. Monica, Moraga (1965)
• Santa Paula, Fremont (May 20, 1965)
• Our Lady of Good Counsel, San Leandro (July 1, 1966)
• St. Stephen, Walnut Creek (July 1, 1966)
• St. James, Fremont (April 13, 1972)
• St Anne Mission, elevated to St. Ann Parish (1973)

Bishop Begin died on April 26, 1977.  He was originally buried in the Bishop's Crypt at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Hayward, California. On November 2, 2008, his remains were re-interred in the Cathedral Mausoleum of the new Cathedral of Christ the Light.

 

Successors:  

Bishop Emeritus John S. Cummins

Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron

Archishop Salvatore J. Cordileone

Bishop Michael C. Barber, SJ