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Florida Catholic Conference and
Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops

Our offices are in downtown Tallahassee, just two blocks from the Capitol complex.

201 West Park Avenue
Tallahassee, FL 32301-7715
phone: (850) 205-6820
fax: (850) 205-6849
(Map It)

Archdiocese of Miami Diocese of St. Augustine Diocese of St. Petersburg Diocese of Orlando Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee Diocese of Palm Beach Diocese of Venice

  • Most Reverend Robert N. Lynch

    Bishop of St. Petersburg
    Secretary

  • Bishop Lynch is a native of West Virginia and received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from the Josephinum in 1963 and remained in the School of Theology until 1965. He re-entered theology at Pope John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, Massachusetts in September of 1975. On May 13, 1978, he was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Edward A. McCarthy at St. Mary's Cathedral in Miami.

    After ordination, Bishop Lynch was assigned to St. James Parish in North Miami as an Associate Pastor. He remained there until July, 1979 at which time he returned to the episcopal conference in Washington for four months for the purpose of planning and organizing the first pastoral visit of Pope John Paul II to the United States in October, 1979. This was to be the first of four visits by Pope John Paul II in which Bishop Lynch played an active role as coordinator.

    Upon returning to Miami following Pope John Paul II's departure from the United States in October, 1979, Bishop Lynch was assigned to St. John Vianney College Seminary, Miami, as President-Rector. He remained in this position for five years.

    In August, 1984, Bishop Lynch was assigned to the National Conference of Catholic Bishops/United States Catholic Conference as an Associate General Secretary to Monsignor Daniel F. Hoye. Bishop Lynch's specific area of responsibility within the bishop's conference during these years was for public policy matters. In 1987, he again planned and executed Pope John Paul II's ten day second pastoral visit to the United States, which included his own home Archdiocese of Miami.

    Bishop Lynch succeeded Monsignor Hoye as General Secretary on February 2, 1989 and began a six year period of service to the bishops of the United States. He was named a Prelate of Honor by Pope John Paul II with the title "Monsignor" in September of 1989. In his capacity as General Secretary, Bishop Lynch also served as Corporate Secretary and member of the Board of Catholic Relief Services. He completed his term of service as General Secretary on February 2, 1995 and returned to the Archdiocese of Miami.

    After a four month sabbatical leave, Bishop Lynch was assigned by Archbishop John C. Favalora as Pastor of St. Mark's Catholic Church, Fort Lauderdale, on June 1, 1995.

    Bishop Lynch was officially named the Fourth Bishop of the Diocese of St. Petersburg on December 5, 1995. Bishop Lynch was formally installed and ordained as the Fourth Bishop of St. Petersburg on January 26, 1996 at the Cathedral of St. Jude, St. Petersburg.

DIOCESE OF ST. PETERSBURG

6363 9th Avenue North
St. Petersburg, FL 33710
727-344-1611
www.dosp.org