Most Rev. Thomas James Olmsted, DD, JCD,
Bishop of Phoenix
- Ordained priest [for diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska]: 2 July 1973
- Appointed Co-Adjutor Bishop of Wichita, Kansas, 16 February 1999
- Consecrated Bishop, 20 April 1999
- Appointed Bishop of Phoenix, 25 April 2003
- Installed as Fourth Bishop of Phoenix, 20 December 2003
Bishop Olmsted comes to us from the “heartland” of our country Kansas, where he was born and raised – and from the “heart of the Church” – Rome. Following his first assignment as a priest as parochial vicar at the Cathedral of the Risen Christ, Lincoln, Nebraska, Bishop Olmsted returned to Rome to resume doctoral studies in Canon Law. Subsequently, he served as an attaché at the Vatican Secretariat of State and as assistant spiritual director at the Pontifical North American College in Rome (1979-1988). He would return to the States to serve as parish priest, and then as seminary rector at the Pontifical College Josephinum, Columbus, Ohio, prior to his consecration as bishop and service to the Church in Wichita, Kansas. In addition to being an avid hiker and sports enthusiast, Bishop is a HUGE baseball fan… he can cite RBIs with the best of ‘em. A prayerful, kind-hearted and simple man, we’re delighted and humbled to have him in residence here in his Cathedral parish.