Archdiocese of St. Louis
20 Archbishop May Dr.
St. Louis, MO 63119
Phone: 314-792-7841
Fax: 314-792-7842
On April 21, 2009, it was announced that the Most Rev. Robert J. Carlson was appointed by the Holy See as the successor to Archbishop Raymond L. Burke as the Archbishop of Saint Louis, Missouri.
Prior to his appointment to the Archdiocese of Saint Louis, Bishop Robert J. Carlson was installed as the fifth bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw on February 24, 2005 at the direction of Pope John Paul II. A native of Minneapolis, Minn., he was ordained to the priesthood on May 23, 1970 for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. He was later ordained as an auxiliary bishop for his home archdiocese on January 11, 1984 and went on to serve as Bishop of Sioux Falls, S.D., from 1994 to 2005.
“When I first learned that I would be the new archbishop, I went to the web site and was impressed by your clear and straightforward mission statement: “...called by our Lord Jesus Christ to be His Church and to live His Gospel with joy”. In these challenging times, it is a powerful expression of faith.”
—Archbishop Robert J. Carlson
Download a high-resolution image of Archbishop Robert J. Carlson.
Coat of Arms / Crest
The great seal of the Archdiocese of St. Louis (viewer’s left side) is an azure, blue, field with a gold crusader’s cross, and a crown representing Saint Louis IX, King of France and patron of both the Archdiocese of St. Louis and City of St. Louis. On the extremes of the cross are found the fleur-de-lis flower that recalls the French foundation of the city. In the upper corner of the shield is a silver crescent moon symbolizing Mary, the Blessed Virgin, the state of Missouri, and the navigational direction of west. At the bottom of the shield a silver, or argent, wavy band symbolizes a body of water or in this case the Mississippi River. When all the symbols are read together they suggest the description: West of a body of water, the Mississippi River, there is a diocese/city named for the Crusader King of France.
The personal arms of Archbishop Robert J. Carlson (viewer’s right side) was adopted in 1984 when he became Auxiliary of St. Paul – Minneapolis, and is now joined to the coat of arms of the Archdiocese of St. Louis. The garb of wheat on his personal arms represents his native Minneapolis (the "miller of the Midwest") and the green field alludes to the plains as well as recalling the liturgical color symbolizing hope. The crescent represents his devotion to Mary and the Latin cross is a symbol of faith. The upper portion of the shield is taken from the arms associated with the bishop's family and the waves in base allude to the Sioux River and recall his service as bishop of Sioux Falls.
The episcopal coat of arms is completed by the gold processional metropolitan cross behind the shield, the green ecclesiastical hat or “gallero” with its ten tassels on each side, indicates Archbishop Carlson’s episcopal rank, and the motto which appears on an ornamental scroll, are the distinctive heraldic emblems of an archbishop in the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church. The episcopal motto of Archbishop Carlson is, “Ante Crucem Nihil Defensionis,” that is, Before the Cross There is No Defense.
Download a larger version of Archbishop Carlson's Coat of Arms.
Education
He earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy from St. Paul Seminary in 1966; a master's degree in divinity from St. Paul Seminary in 1976; and a Licentiate in Canon Law from the Catholic University of America in 1979.
Other Current Appointments
- Member, Canon Law Society of America
- Board Member, The International Dominican Foundation
- Chair-Elect, USCCB Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life
- Co-Chair, Mission Advisory Committee, Institute for Priestly Formation, Omaha, Neb.
- Board Member, Los Cabos Children’s Foundation
- Member, National Conference of Diocesan Vocation Directors Advisory Board
- Founder, The Messengers of Peace Religious Community, Colombia, South America
Previous Appointments
- Past Chair, National Foundation for Catholic Youth Ministry
- Past Chair, USCCB Committee on Vocations
- Past Chair, USCCB Committee on Priestly Life and Ministry
- Past Chair, USCCB Ad Hoc Committee on Youth
- Past Chair, USCCB Ad Hoc Committee for the Catholic Charismatic Renewal
- Former Member, USCCB Committee on Laity
- Former Member, USCCB Committee on Pastoral Practice
- Former Episcopal Moderator, USCCB Committee on Scouting
- Former Episcopal Moderator, Serra International - USA/Canada Council
- Past President, National Evangelization Team (NET)
- Board Member St. Paul Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota, Sacred Heart Seminary, Detroit, Michigan
