Archbishop George H. Niederauer: In a Nutshell

Intermountain Catholic

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Ordained to the priesthood: April 30, 1962, for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, California

Named a Prelate of Honor (Monsignor): 1984

Named eighth bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City: Nov. 3, 1994

Ordained Bishop of Salt Lake City: Jan. 25, 1995

Date of birth: June 14, 1936

Place of birth: Los Angeles, Calif.

Family: Bishop Niederauer was the only child of George and Elaine Niederauer (parents deceased).

Education

St. Catherine’s Military Academy, Anaheim, Calif., 1946-1950

Graduated from St. Anthony’s High School, Long Beach, Calif., 1954

Attended freshman year at Stanford University

Entered Los Angeles Archdiocesan seminary system, 1955

Earned Bachelor of Philosophy Degree, St. John’s Seminary, Camarillo, Calif., 1959

Earned Bachelor of Sacred Theology Degree, Catholic University of America, Washington, DC, 1962

Earned Master’s Degree in English Literature, Loyola University of Los Angeles, 1962

Earned Ph.D. in English Literature, University of Southern California, 1966

Earned diploma from Focus on Leadership: Theological and Scriptural Studies and Spiritual Direction, Loretta Heights College, Denver, Colorado, 1978

Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, University of Utah, May 6, 2005

Ministry

1994-present: Bishop of Salt Lake City

1992-1994: Co-director of Cardinal Manning House of Prayer for Priests, Los Angeles, Calif.

1979-1992: Part-time instructor, English Literature, St. John’s Seminary College, Camarillo, Calif.

1965-1979: Full-time instructor, English Literature, St. John’s Seminary College, Camarillo, Calif.; weekend and holiday ministry, Saint Bernardine of Siena Parish, Woodland Hills, Calif.

1979-1987: Full time instructor, Spiritual Theology, St. John’s Seminary Theologate, Camarillo, Calif.

1976-1979: Part-time instructor, Spiritual Theology, St. John’s Seminary Theologate, Camarillo, Calif.

1967-1974: Instructor, English Literature, Mount St. Mary’s College, Los Angeles, Calif. (summer sessions)

1963-1965: Priest in residence, Holy Name of Jesus Parish, Los Angeles, Calif.

1962-1963: Assistant Pastor, Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, Claremont, Calif.

Administration

1994-present: Bishop of Salt Lake City

1992-1994: Co-director of Cardinal Manning House of Prayer for Priests, Los Angeles, Calif.

1979-1992: Spiritual Director, St. John’s Seminary, Camarillo, Calif.

1987-1992: Rector, St. John’s Seminary, Camarillo, Calif.

1972-1979: Spiritual Director, St. John’s Seminary College, Camarillo, Calif.

1968-1977: Chairman, English Department, St. John’s Seminary College, Camarillo, California

Professional Associations

Past member of the National Federation of Spiritual Directors

Past member of Alpha Sigma Nu (Jesuit Honor Society – LMU Chapter)

Served as president of the National Federation of Spiritual Directors, 1975-1977

Served as president of the Western Association of Spiritual Directors, 1973-1975

Past member of the Board of Los Angeles Archdiocesan Spirituality Commission

Past member of the Board of the Committee of Priests’ Retreat, Archdiocese of Los Angeles

Past member of Select Committee for the revision of the United States Catholic Conference "Program for Priestly Formation," third edition

Past member of Vatican Visitation Team for Theologates

Past Member, NCCB Bishops and Presidents’ Committee

Member, Knights of Columbus, Council 602

Consultant, NCCB Bishops’ Committee on Hispanic Affairs, 11/1996-11/1999

Member, Board of Trustees, St. Patrick’s Seminary, 1997-2002

Member, NCCB Committee on Communications and Subcommittee on Standards and Policy, 11/1996-11/1999

Knight of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem

Member, Visitation Team for Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary of the West Seminary in Cincinnati, Ohio, March, 1999

Bishop-Liaison for the National Organization for Continuing Education of Roman Catholic Clergy, Inc.(NOCERCC), March 1998-February, 2001

Member, NCCB Bishops’ Committee on Priestly Life and Ministry, 1997-2000

Chairman, NCCB Priestly Formation Committee, 11/1999-11/2002

Chairman, NCCB Administrative Board, 11/1999-11/2002

Chairman, NCCB 2000 Ad Hoc Committee on the Nomination of Conference Officers, 2000

Member, NCCB Committee on Budget and Finance, 2/2000-11/2002

Chairman, USCCB Subcommittee for Catholic News Service

Member, USCCB Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Abuse

Alternate (Region XIII), USCCB Administrative Committee

Member (Region XIII), USCCB Committee on Boundaries of Dioceses and Provinces

Member, USCCB Committee on Communications

Member (Region XIII), USCCB Committee on Selection of Bishops

Member, USCCB Subcommittee for Standards and Policy

Chair-elect, USCCB Communications Committee

Ecumenical Involvement

Speaker for World Vision International, Fuller Theological Seminary, California Lutheran College

Past Member of Camarillo Ministerial Association

Participant at Episcopal Church’s Spirituality Program, Amicitia

Member of Salt Lake Rotary Club

Past Member, Utah Quality Growth Public-Private Partnership

Past Community Chair, State of ALERT Initiative

Past Member, Coalition for Utah’s Future (3 yr. term, beginning 12/2/1997)

Executive Committee Member, National Board Religious Alliance Against Pornography

President, Utah Coalition Against Pornography

Member, Alliance for Unity

Gandhi Peace Award, October 3, 2004, from Gandhi Alliance for Peace

Published Works

"Precious as Silver: Imagining Your Life with God" (Ave Maria Press, 2003)

Hobbies

Classical music

Stamp collecting

Reading

Film appreciation