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

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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.

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.

Appointments

• 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 of the 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 of Episcopal Advisory Board of the Institute on
  Religious Life, October 2009
• Episcopal Board of Advisors for Cause of Beatification of
  Archbishop Sheen, October 2009
• Chair USCCB Committee Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations
  2010
• Member of Board of Governors, Cardinal Glennon Children’s
  Foundation 2010
• Episcopal Board for Good
  Leaders, Good Shepherds
• Member, Board, Apostleship of Prayer 2010
• Board of Trustees, Catholic University of America 2010
• Episcopal Advisory Board for Catholic Leadership Institute 

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

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

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

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
• Cosmopoitan 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 Sephulchre of Jerusalem, 2004
• Father Pat Mackan Award, Inclusive Catholic Education, October 2006
• Interfaith Partnership Award, September 2011