St. Brigid Catholic Church
Baltimore, MD
The Archbishop of Baltimore, Most Rev. Edwin F. O'Brien
15th Archbishop of Baltimore

Motto: Pastores Dabo Vobis "I will give you shepherds" –Jeremiah 3:15

Edwin Frederick O’Brien was born April 8, 1939 in the Bronx, New York, son of
Edwin Frederick O’Brien, Sr. and Mary Winifred O’Brien.  He was one of three
children, including brothers Ken and Tom (now both deceased).  He attended
St. Joseph’s Seminary, Dunwoodie, where he received his Bachelor of Arts
degree in 1961, a Master of Divinity in 1964, and a Master of Arts degree in
1965.  He was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of New York on May 29,
1965 by Francis Cardinal Spellman.

His first assignment was as a civilian chaplain at the United States Military
Academy at West Point, New York.  He would later be commissioned to
become a military chaplain and in 1970, he officially became an Army
Chaplain with the rank of Captain, serving with the 82nd Airborne Division.  
From 1971 to 1972, he served a tour of duty in Vietnam with the 173rd
Airborne Brigade and 1st Cavalry Brigade.  From a base of operations in the
middle of a jungle, he and a Protestant minister flew by helicopter to defensive
outposts where they would provide for the spiritual needs of the soldiers.

In 1973, he left the military and began his doctoral studies at Rome’s
Angelicum University.  While preparing for his doctorate in sacred theology,
Archbishop O’Brien was a graduate student at the Pontifical North American
College.  He studied moral theology and completed his doctoral dissertation,
entitled The Origin and Development of Moral Principles in the Writings of
Paul Ramsey, in 1976.

He returned to continue his service to the Archdiocese of New York, serving
as vice-chancellor for the Archdiocese and associate pastor at St. Patrick’s
Cathedral.  In 1979 he coordinated Pope John Paul II’s visit to New York and
for two years served as communications director for the Archdiocese.  In
1986, he was elevated to Monsignor and served two terms as rector of St.
Joseph’s Seminary from 1985-1989 and 1994-1997.  From 1990-1994, he
served as rector of the Pontifical North American College in Rome.

On February 6, 1996, he was named Auxiliary Bishop of New York and bishop
of the titular see of Thizica.  He was consecrated by Cardinal John O’Connor
at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on March 25, 1996.  On April 7 of the following year,
he was named co-adjutor bishop for the Archdiocese for the Military Services
and on August 12, 1997, he succeeded as archbishop.  The Archdiocese for
the Military Services serves 1.5 million Catholics including all U.S. Armed
Forces and their families as well as 170 Veterans Administration hospitals and
U.S. Government employees overseas.

From September 2005 to June 2006, he served as the Holy See’s coordinator
for the Papal Visitation of Seminaries and Houses of Priestly Formation and
this spring was appointed a member of the Congregation for Catholic
Education and Seminaries.

On July 12, 2007, his appointment as Archbishop of Baltimore by Pope
Benedict XVI was announced.  He succeeded Cardinal William H. Keeler, who
served as the 14th Archbishop of the nation’s oldest diocese from 1989-2007,
whose resignation was accepted having reached the age limit.
Archdiocese of Baltimore
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21201
Phone: 410-547-5437
Fax: 410-727-8234