Whether he is assisting with sacraments such as Confirmation or is celebrating a Sunday Mass, he is a familiar and welcome face throughout the Diocese. This year, he celebrates the 30th Anniversary of his Episcopal Ordination, marking three decades of faithful service and lasting legacy within our area.

On January 26, 1996, Bishop Emeritus Robert Lynch was ordained a bishop and installed as the fourth Bishop of the Diocese of Saint Petersburg. He was first ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Miami in 1978. Prior to his ordination as a bishop, he served as the General Secretary of the United States Catholic Conference and the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, ministered in parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Miami, and served as rector and president of St. John Vianney College Seminary in Miami.

During his tenure as Bishop of the Diocese of Saint Petersburg, Bishop Lynch worked to create meaningful and lasting change. In 2000, he commissioned the construction of a new Pastoral Center, a building that would bring diocesan offices together to serve in “one space, one place,” after years of operating out of multiple locations. He also made Catholic schools and religious education programs a priority, actively planning for future Catholic school construction and improvements to existing campuses.  

One of Bishop Lynch’s most enduring qualities is his commitment to presence. He spent much of his time as bishop devoted to the priests, deacons, religious, and lay faithful within the Diocese, guided by his belief that a bishop’s primary responsibility is first and foremost to the people of the diocese in which he serves.

Going into the 2000 Jubilee Year, he launched a program titled Renew 2000, a diocesan-wide initiative focused on developing small Christian faith-sharing communities. This emphasis on communal faith formation continues today in multiple parishes and within the Pastoral Center. With various community members describing this element of the initiative to be a vital part of their faith life.

As part of that Jubilee Year, Bishop Lynch also focused on forgiveness, freedom, and spiritual renewal. He presided at services for the Sacrament of Reconciliation throughout the Diocese and instituted a “debt-forgiveness” program through which he relieved parishes in need from construction debt.

During his tenure, Bishop Lynch also established the Diocese’s first capital campaign and began a plan that strengthened the priests’ retirement fund, initiated plans for a family life and spirituality center, established an endowment fund for Catholic Charities with an emphasis on support for senior citizens, and established two endowment funds for youth ministry – one to support youth ministers and another dedicated to leadership development and scholarships for the youth.

Following Pope Francis’ appointment of Bishop Gregory Parkes to be his successor as Bishop of the Diocese of Saint Petersburg on November 28, 2016, Bishop Lynch retired and received the title of Bishop Emeritus.  

Though retired from administrative leadership, he continues to serve actively within the Diocese of Saint Petersburg. His 30 years of service have left a lasting legacy, and his continued ministry remains a blessing to our diocesan community.  

Please join us in thanking Bishop Emeritus Robert Lynch for his faithful service and congratulate him on 30 years of Episcopal Ordination!

To learn more about the history of the Diocese of Saint Petersburg, click here.