Bishop of Oakland
Bishop Michael C. Barber, SJ
The Most Reverend Michael C. Barber, SJ, was ordained to the episcopate and installed as the fifth Bishop of Oakland on May 25, 2013 in the Cathedral of Christ the Light.
Video of the Mass of Ordination
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.