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The Most Reverend Robert J. Carlson
Archdiocese of St. Louis
20 Archbishop May Dr.
St. Louis, MO 63119
Phone: 314-792-7841
Fax: 314-792-7842
Email Archbishop Carlson
The Most Reverend Robert J. Carlson was installed as Archbishop of St. Louis on June 10, 2009 after being appointed to the Archdiocese of St. Louis by Pope Benedict XVI on April 21, 2009.
Prior to his appointment to the Archdiocese of St. Louis, Archbishop Carlson served as the fifth bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw from 2005-2009. at the direction of Pope John Paul II.
A native of Minneapolis, Minn., Archbishop Carlson 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.
An official photo of Archbishop Carlson, and other resources, are available in the Archdiocese of St. Louis Press Kit upon agreeing to the terms for proper usage.
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.
Current Position:
Installed as Archbishop of St. Louis, June 10, 2009
Appointed Archbishop of St. Louis, April 21, 2009
Installed as Bishop of Saginaw, Michigan, February 24, 2005
Named Ordinary of the Diocese of Sioux Falls, March 21, 1995
Appointed Coadjutor Bishop of the Diocese of Sioux Falls, January 13, 1994
Ordained Bishop, January 11, 1984, and served as Auxiliary Bishop of the
Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Ordained a Priest for the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, May 23, 1970
Currently Serves as:
Member, Canon Law Society of America
Co-Chair, Mission Advisory Committee, Institute for Priestly Formation, Omaha NE
Member, Advisory Board, Los Cabos Children’s Foundation, 2004-Present
Member, NCDVD Advisory Board (National Conference of Diocesan Vocation Directors)
Co-Founder, The Messengers of Peace Religious Community, Colombia, South America, 2004
Member, Episcopal Advisory Board of the Institute on Religious Life, October 2009
Episcopal Board of Advisors, Cause of Beatification of Archbishop Sheen, October 2009
Episcopal Advisor, Renewal Ministries
Chair, USCCB Committee Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations 2010
Chair, Board of Governors, Cardinal Glennon Children’s Foundation 2010
Episcopal Board, Good Leaders, Good Shepherds through Catholic Leadership Institute
Episcopal Advisory Board, Catholic Leadership Institute
Member, Board, Apostleship of Prayer 2010
Member, Board of Trustees, Catholic University of America 2010
Member, Episcopal Advisory Board for Augustine Institute 2011
Member, Board of Directors of Cross Catholic Outreach 2012
Member, Catholics Come Home Theological Advisory Board 2012
Education:
Saint Paul Seminary, B.A. in Philosophy, 1966
Saint Paul Seminary, M.Div./Master of Divinity, Saint Paul Seminary, 1976
Catholic University of America, Licentiate in Canon Law, 1979
Personal:
Born to Robert and Jeanne Carlson on June 30, 1944, in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Humanitarian of the Year Award, South Dakota Right to Life, October 3, 1998
Cosmopolitan Club of Sioux Falls Distinguished Service Award, 2002
The Institute for Priestly Formation, Our Lady of Guadalupe Award, 2003
Knight Commander, Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem
Appointed an Honorary Canon by the Patriarch of Jerusalem for the Church of the Holy
Sepulchre of Jerusalem, 2004
Bishop Murphy Award for Leaders of Outstanding Faith, Diocese of Saginaw, April 24, 2009
Service Award from Interfaith Partnership Faith Beyond Walls, September 22, 2011
The Joseph Cardinal Ritter Award from Cardinal Ritter High School, February 10, 2012
2012 Sister Mary Ann Eckhoff, SSND Leadership Award from the Today and Tomorrow
Educational Foundation, April 26, 2012
Service to the Community Award from the Ecumenical Leadership Council, May 29, 2012
Previous Positions:
Past President, 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, 2005-2008
Former Member of USCCB Committee on Laity
Former Member of USCCB Committee on Pastoral Practice
Former Episcopal Moderator, USCCB Committee on Scouting, 1993-1997
Former Episcopal Moderator, Serra International – USA/Canada Council, 1997-2001
Past President, National Evangelization Teams (NET), 1989-2001
Former Board Member St. Paul Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota,
Former Board Member Sacred Heart Seminary, Detroit, Michigan
Former Board Member The International Dominican Foundation
Sampling of Recent Speeches/Presentations/Publications:
“The Bishop as the Primary Formator,” The Institute for Priestly Formation, March, 2005
Retreat Priests of the Diocese of Fargo, ND October 2009
Retreat for Bishops of Region XII, Seattle, WA January 2008
Retreat for Bishops of Texas Region, January 2009
Retreat for Bishops of Region IX, January 2010
Retreat Priests of Diocese of Lincoln 2010
Pastoral Letter on Peace, December 12, 2008
Pastoral Letter on Evangelization, January 6, 2008
Pastoral Letter on Sacrament of Penance, January 25, 2008
“El Obispo Como Protagonista de la Formacion” LA Revista Catolica, March 2008,
pp. 6-14
“Challenges for Bishops in Fostering Unity Among Priests,” USCCB Spring Meeting June 2010