bishop michael c. barber, sj

• 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)
• 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)

• 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, 3^rd Marine Air Wing.  Active Duty, deployed to Middle East (Operations Noble Eagle and Iraqi Freedom)
• 2003-08—Regimental Chaplain, 23^rd Marines 4^th 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, 4^th 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

• 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

On the viewer's left are the arms of the Diocese of Oakland, easily recognized by the prominent oak tree.

To the right are Bishop Barber's personal arms:  on the top, the seal of the Society of Jesus, the order to which Bishop Barber belongs.  This seal is also found on Pope Francis's coat of arms.

On the bottom right is a fouled anchor, a symbol of the United States Navy, in which Bishop Barber is a commissioned officer.  The anchor is also the symbol of hope in Christian iconography.

Motto "Deus Misericordiarum Pater"

The Latin motto means "God the Father of mercies" -- the first words of the formula of absolution pronounced by priests in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  These are also the words in which God is addressed in the formal Prayer of Consecration of a new bishop.

External ornaments

Above the cross is a type of hat called a galero with two tassels or fiocchi on the brim and six suspended on each side from cords.  A green galero is the traditional symbol of a bishop.  The number of tassels is a symbol of rank.