WASHINGTON—Father Michael Fuller, a priest of the diocese of Rockford, has been nominated as a candidate for general secretary of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). 

 

Father Fuller currently serves as the executive director of the Secretariat of Doctrine and Canonical Affairs of the USCCB, a position he has held since Aug. 8, 2016.

 

The other nominee for the office of general secretary is current associate general secretary Msgr. Jeffrey D. Burrill, STL., a position he has held since 2016.

 

The nominees were announced Sept. 16. The election will take place during the Bishops’ Fall Assembly in November, which will be held virtually. 

 

The priest elected will succeed Msgr.  J. Brian Bransfield, STD, who has been USCCB general secretary since 2015.

 

Father Fuller’s nomination marks the second time a priest from the Rockford Diocese was in the running for the position of general secretary. 

 

In 2010 Msgr. David Kagan, now Bishop of the Diocese of Bismarck, was nominated along with Msgr. Ronald Jenkins who ultimately was elected to the post.

 

“The nomination of Father Fuller as a candidate for the general secretary of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is a recognition of his service to the Church, his scholarship and especially his priestly ministry.  It is also an honor for us that he is a priest of the Diocese of Rockford,” said Bishop David Malloy.

 

Before being named Bishop of Rockford, Bishop Malloy served as associate general secretary of the USCCB from 2001 to 2006 and then as general secretary until 2011.

 

Father Fuller has been associate professor and chair of the Department of Spiritual Theology at the University of St. Mary of the Lake and Mundelein Seminary since 2011. 

 

He was editor of the Chicago Studies Theological Journal, 2012-2016 and has served as spiritual director and instructor for the Diaconate Formation Program of the Diocese of Rockford, 2002-2016, and as instructor for the Diaconate Formation Program of the Archdiocese of Chicago.

 

Prior to that, Father Fuller served as instructor, assistant professor and chair of the Department of Christian Life, 2002-2011, at the University of St. Mary of the Lake and Mundelein Seminary. 

 

He taught at the Institute for Priestly Formation at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, 2004-2008; and was instructor in Health Care Ethics at Saint Anthony School of Nursing, Rockford, 1998-2000. 

 

He also served as associate pastor of St. Bridget Parish, Loves Park, 1997-2000.

 

Father Fuller holds a doctorate in sacred theology. He also holds a master of divinity, a licentiate of sacred theology and a bachelor of sacred theology from the University of St. Mary of the Lake and Mundelein Seminary. 

 

He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Rockford in 1997. Prior to entering seminary formation, Father Fuller spent two years in Swaziland, Africa, as a Peace Corps volunteer.

 

Father Fuller has written extensively in numerous scholarly publications and is the author of two books: Daily Prayer 2008 and The Virgin Martyrs: A Hagiographical and Mystagogical Interpretation. 

 

He is also a member of the North American Patristics Association, the Catholic Theological Association of America and the National Association of Diaconate Directors.