Bernard Edward Shlesinger III

His Excellency, The Most Reverend Bernard Edward Shlesinger
Auxiliary Bishop of Atlanta Titular Bishop of Naiera
Archdiocese	Atlanta
Appointed	May 15, 2017
Installed	July 19, 2017
Other post(s)	Titular Bishop of Naiera
Orders
Ordination	June 22, 1996 by Francis Joseph Gossman
Consecration	July 19, 2017 by Wilton Daniel Gregory, Luis R. Zarama, and Michael Francis Burbidge
Personal details
Born	(1960-12-17) December 17, 1960 (age 61) Washington, DC
Nationality	American
Alma mater	Virginia Tech, Catholic University of America, Pontifical North American College, Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas
Motto	Christum Oportet Crescere

Styles of Bernard Edward Shlesinger
Reference style	His Excellency The Most Reverend
Spoken style	Your Excellency
Religious style	Bishop

Bernard Edward Shlesinger III (born December 17, 1960) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was appointed as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Atlanta in 2017.

Biography[]

Early life[]

Shlesinger was born on December 17, 1960, in Washington, D.C. He attended Mount Vernon High School in Alexandria, Virginia, then entered Virginia Tech. After receiving a BS degree in agricultural engineering in 1983, Shlesinger entered the US Air Force as a commissioned officer. As a pilot, he flew Lockheed C-130E Hercules air transport planes out of Pope Field in Fayetteville, North Carolina.^[1]

In 1990, Shlesinger retired from the Air Force with the rank of captain and started studying for the priesthood. He first studied philosophy as the Catholic University of America, then went to Rome to the Pontifical North American College. Shlesinger was award a BA in Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University and a licentiate in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum).^[1]

Priesthood[]

On June 22, 1996, Shlesinger was ordained to the priesthood in Wilmington, North Carolina, for the Diocese of Raleigh.^[2] After his ordination, he was assigned as parochial vicar at St. Mary Parish in Wilmington. In 1998, Shlesinger was appointed pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Newton Grove, North Carolina, serving there for nine years. He also became in 1999 assistant director of vocations, holding that position until 2002.^[1]

In 2007, Shlesinger was appointed director of vocations and seminarian formation for the diocese. Between 2010 and 2012, he also served as the diocesan administrator of Maria, Reina de las Americas Parish in Mount Olive, North Carolina, along with two other missions. Shlesinger served in the role of director until 2013. when was named as Director of Spiritual Formation at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia.^[1]

Auxiliary Bishop of Atlanta[]

On May 15, 2017, Pope Francis appointed Shlesinger as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Atlanta .^[3][4] He was installed and consecrated by Cardinal Wilton Gregory at the Cathedral of Christ the King in Atlanta on July 19, 2017.^[2]

Coat of arms[]

Based on the arms of Shlesinger's home diocese of Raleigh, North Carolina, by reversing the color to be red on silver (white), is a cross of the faith that is composed of eight diamonds (heraldically called “lozenges”). Upon these lozenges is a gold escutcheon (small shield within the major shield) that is charged with the symbolism of the Sacred Heart. To the lower right, base sinister, is a blue “M,” of the Virgin Mary, taken from the arms of Pope John Paul II.

For his motto, Shlesinger has adopted the Latin phrase “Christum oportet crescere ,” from John 3:30.

See also[]

References[]

External links[]

• Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta Official Site