New Bishop a familiar face to many in Catholic Diocese
Bishop David Zubik was the one who appointed the Rev. Michael Sedor as a priest in the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, so the bishop’s retirement was like the end of an era in Sedor’s career.
The new era for Sedor and the entire Diocese of Pittsburgh began Monday, July 14, when Mark A. Eckman was installed as the 13th bishop of Pittsburgh. Sedor said this new era is not a total change, however, because Eckman is a lifelong Pittsburgh resident who has been involved with the diocese since 1985, when he was ordained a Catholic priest.
“A new day starting for the Diocese. as well as Bishop Eckman who is coming in,” Sedor said Tuesday, July 15. “I just had lunch with him. He’s that kind of guy who you can sit down with, chat with about serious matters and other matters. He has a good sense of humor. He is very, very human, very approachable.”
Eckman was ordained on May 11, 1985, and served primarily in South Hills parishes, including as parochial vicar at five parishes, high school chaplain at Seton LaSalle and DePaul School for Hearing and Speech, pastor at three parishes and administrator of two parishes. From July 15, 2013, until July 1, 2020, he was episcopal vicar for clergy personnel. He was assigned administrator of the parishes of Saint Thomas More and Saint John Capistran, which merged to become Resurrection Parish, where he was pastor. Eckman was ordained an auxiliary bishop in 2022 and most recently served the diocese as vicar general and general secretary.
The ceremony where Eckman was installed as bishop had more than 2,000 people in attendance, many of whom also know Eckman from his years working in the church. Sedor commented that the ceremony also is special just because of how rare it is — it’s only the 13th time a new bishop has been installed in the history of Western Pennsylvania, with Zubik’s installation taking place nearly 20 years ago.
Jennifer Antkowiak, director of communications with the Diocese of Pittsburgh, said she spoke to congregants of Resurrection Parish, where Eckman was previously pastor. The three busloads of people from the parish who attended the installation ceremony had similar experiences with Eckman, according to Antkowiak.
“One gentleman said he supported Bishop Eckman and worked with him for years, and he said he’s the whole package,” she said. “He’s a great listener, very project-oriented, good at getting things done. He’s got that very caring side to him.”
Eckman shared some of those goals in his homily at the installation Mass, a talk where he also announced his motto as bishop: “Serve in faith and charity.” Sedor said the motto embodies values promoted by Eckman, even mentioning them in his homily.
“Bishop Eckman said it in his homily, ‘How are you living the words of mercy? How are you taking the faith you profess on Sunday and living it out in the world?’” Sedor said. “He said he’s going to be out talking to the priests, talking to the congregations, that’s part of the job.”
A bishop’s role is to act as a custodian for the church at-large in a particular region. The Diocese of Pittsburgh covers Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Greene, Lawrence and Washington counties. John Hazur, principal of Butler Catholic School, said the new bishop’s familiarity with the region will help him be a voice for Catholics within the Diocese.
“His roots in Pittsburgh and his years of service reflect a leader who understands our communities,” Hazur said. “I believe Bishop Eckman will be a source of stability, faith and inspiration.”
In his homily at the installation mass, Eckman said he wants to meet with as many people within the diocese as possible to continue improving the churches in the region, because he has personal history in the area as a “homegrown boy.”
“I just want to come and listen to you, hear your concerns, to hear your needs, to see what suggestions you might have and how we can continue to grow the church,” Eckman said. “I plan to travel throughout the diocese to visit each and every parish.”
