Most Rev. Roger L. Schwietz, OMI
A member of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate since his first profession of vows on August 15, 1961, Archbishop Schwietz was born in St. Paul, Minnesota on July 3, 1940 and baptized on July 21, 1940 in Saint Casimir Church. He was ordained to the priesthood in Rome on December 20, 1967 and consecrated Bishop of Duluth at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary on February 2, 1990.
Prior to being named Bishop of Duluth, Archbishop Schwietz served as associate pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in International Falls, Minnesota from 1975-1978. In 1978, Archbishop Schwietz was named Director of the College Seminary program for the Oblates of Mary Immaculate at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. In 1984, he became pastor of Holy Family parish in Duluth, Minnesota, from where he was appointed by Pope John Paul II the seventh Bishop of Duluth on December 12, 1989.
In addition to an undergraduate degree in Philosophy, he has earned a M.A. in Philosophy from the University of Ottawa; a S.T.L. in Sacred Theology from the Gregorian University in Rome; and a M.A. in Counseling Psychology from Loyola University. Archbishop Schwietz was also awarded an Honorary Doctor of Humanities Degree from Lewis University in 1998.
Since being named Bishop of Duluth and Currently as Archbishop of Anchorage, Archbishop Schwietz has held a number of positions within the National Conference of Catholic Bishops. He served as a consultant to the Liturgy Committee from 1991-1994. He served as a member of the Bishop’s Vocation Committee from 1992-2004, being elected chair of the committee in 1998. He served as a member of the Bishops’ Committee on the Laity from 1995-1998 and chairman of its Subcommittee on Youth from 1993-1998. He has served as a member of the Catholic Relief Services Board of Directions from 1997-2003 and a member of the NCCB Administrative Board from 1994-1997 and 1998-2002. He has served as the Regional Representative on the Board for the North American College at Louvain, 2001-present.
Archbishop Schwietz currently serves as Episcopal Moderator for Teens Encounter Christ (TEC) movement and has held this position since 1991. He also served as Episcopal Liaison to Region I of the National Association of Catholic Chaplains.
In his ten years as Bishop of Duluth, he wrote three pastoral letters: A Call to Charity; A Call to Conversion and A Call to Hope.
Archbishop Schwietz was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Anchorage by Pope John Paul II on January 18, 2000 and became the Archbishop of Anchorage on March 3, 2001, upon the retirement of the Most Reverend Francis T. Hurley.
Important Dates:
- March 3, 2001 Succeeds as Archbishop of Anchorage
- January 18, 2000 Named Coadjutor Archbishop of Anchorage
- February 2, 1990 Ordained as Bishop of Duluth
- December 12, 1989 Named Bishop of Duluth
- December 20, 1967 Ordained to the Priesthood
- July 21, 1940 Baptized at Saint Casimir Church in Saint Paul, MN
- July 3, 1940 Date of Birth
Photo of Archbishop Schwietz by Kelly DuFort.
