The Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge, fifth bishop of the Diocese of Raleigh, N.C., preached a message of unity and harmony for all Christians at the Campbell worship service on Tuesday, Feb. 27. Catholic students comprise the largest non-protestant population on the Campbell University campus, according to Registrar David McGirt.”This may be the first time many of you have ever seen a Catholic bishop before,” Burbidge said. “The word bishop comes from a Greek word meaning overseer. Catholics believe that it is the mandate of the Lord Jesus to promote unity and harmony among believers. Our duty as bishops is to provide spiritual guidance.”Victor Flores, a Catholic and senior government major from Dunn, N.C., said he was pleased that Campbell invited Bishop Burbidge to speak.”I think it’s wonderful that Campbell is really trying to have programs in which all faiths are represented,” Flores said.Under the United Ministry Council organizations offered through the Campus Ministry Office at Campbell are Christians in Action, Campus Crusade for Christ, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the Catholic Young Adult Society and many more.Associate professor of foreign language Dr. Haydn Tiago Jones advises the Catholic Young Adult Society, which has a membership of approximately 130 students. The students meet weekly to fellowship and discuss spiritual issues.”Catholic students are very active on this campus,” said Flores, who plans to attend law school after he graduates. “Campbell has really become a diverse campus.”Bishop Burbidge holds a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy and a Master of Arts in theology from St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia. He earned a master’s degree in educational administration from Villanova University and received an Ed.D. from Immaculata College.A native of Philadelphia, Pa., Burbidge served as a Parochial Vicar at St. Bernard Church in Philadelphia from 1986-1992. In 1992 he was named administrative secretary to the Archbishop of Philadelphia and was made Honorary Prelate to Pope John Paul II, with the title of Monsignor, in 1998. He was appointed Rector of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in 1999 and was ordained an auxiliary bishop of Philadelphia, overseeing the office of the Vicar for Clergy and the Office of Communications, in 2002. In June 2006, Pope Benedict XVI named Bishop Burbidge the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Raleigh. He was installed on August 2, 2006. As bishop of the Diocese of Raleigh, Burbidge oversees the spiritual life of approximately 400,000 Catholics in eastern North Carolina.Founded in 1887, Campbell University is a private, coeducational institution of liberal arts, sciences and professions offering undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees. The university is comprised of the College of Arts and Sciences, the Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law, the Lundy-Fetterman School of Business, the School of Education, the School of Pharmacy and the Divinity School.More information about Campbell University is available on the Web site, https://www.campbell.edu.Photo Copy: The Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge, fifth bishop of the Diocese of Raleigh, chats with Dr. Dwaine Greene, vice president for Academic Affairs and provost at Campbell University. Bishop Burbidge spoke at a Campbell worship service on Tuesday, Feb. 27.
Bishop of Raleigh Diocese delivers message of unity