WASHINGTON—Pope Leo XIV has bestowed the designation of “Chaplain to His Holiness” upon Rev. Michael J.K. Fuller, General Secretary of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). The pontifical honor comes with the title of Monsignor.
The announcement was made, in surprise to Father Fuller, by Archbishop Paul Coakley, president of the USCCB, March 10 just before the opening of the Administrative Committee Meeting at the offices of the USCCB in Washington, D.C.
“In his work, Father Fuller has demonstrated a pastoral heart, a theologian’s mind, and a worthy steward’s deft guiding hand,” said Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, president of the USCCB, in making the surprise announcement. He continued, “Last fall my predecessor, Archbishop Timothy Broglio, along with Father Fuller’s ordinary, Bishop David Malloy of Rockford, desired to bring an awareness of the exemplary priesthood and work of Father Fuller to the Holy Father. Together it was proposed that Father Fuller be duly recognized for his priestly life and his service to the broader Church as a seminary formator, a theologian, and as General Secretary.”
Bishop Malloy offered congratulations to Msgr. Fuller on behalf of the clergy and laity of the Rockford Diocese and said, “Msgr. Fuller has generously and faithfully served the Diocese of Rockford and the wider Church in many capacities since his ordination in 1997, including his current lofty responsibilities as General Secretary of the United States Conference of
Catholic Bishops.
Msgr. Fuller is the first priest to receive the pontifical honor in the Rockford Diocese since Msgrs. John Fritz, Everett Hiller, Stephen Knox and Michael Tierney were invested as monsignors in 2011.
Msgr. Fuller is a priest of the Diocese of Rockford, ordained by Bishop Thomas G. Doran in 1997. He has served the U.S. bishops for the last decade in a variety of roles at the Conference, beginning in 2016 as the head of the Secretariat for Doctrine and Canonical Affairs, and then in the offices of the General Secretariat
since 2021.
Prior to his service at the USCCB, Msgr. Fuller was associate professor and chair of the Department of Spiritual Theology at the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary from 2011 to 2016. He was also editor of the Chicago Studies Theological Journal (2012-2016), and from 2002 to 2016, he served as spiritual director and instructor for the Diaconate Formation Program of the Diocese of Rockford, and as instructor for the Diaconate Formation Program of the Archdiocese of Chicago.
Msgr. Fuller also served as instructor, assistant professor, and chair of the Department of Christian Life (2002-2011) at the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary. He taught at the Institute for Priestly Formation at Creighton University, 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).
Msgr. Fuller holds a doctorate in sacred theology, a master of divinity, a licentiate of sacred theology and a bachelor of sacred theology from the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary. Prior to entering seminary formation, Msgr. Fuller spent two years in Swaziland, Africa, as a Peace Corps volunteer. He 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.
—Penny Wiegert contributed to this story.
