The Holy See announced on June 4, 2025 that Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of Bishop David A. Zubik, who reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 this past September, and appointed Auxiliary Bishop Mark A. Eckman as the 13th Bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh.
Bishop Eckman is a 1985 graduate of Saint Vincent Seminary, and has been serving in his present capacity as auxiliary bishop since his consecration by Bishop Zubik on January 11, 2022. Bishop Eckman will be installed on Monday, July 14, 2025, during a special Mass at Saint Paul Cathedral in Oakland.
In a letter to diocesan clergy and staff, Bishop Zubik wrote, “I am both grateful and thrilled with this appointment. Bishop Eckman knows the diocese. And we know him as an exceptional pastor, and outstanding administrator—truly an exemplary priest.”
Bishop Eckman, who has also served the diocese as a longtime parish priest, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve.
“With a grateful and humble heart, I accept this appointment and ask for the prayers of all the faithful,” Bishop Eckman said. “Together, we will continue the mission of Jesus Christ with hope.”
“Bishop Mark has always been first and foremost a shepherd, both to his parishioners and to his fellow priests, and now to the entire Diocese,” said Archabbot Martin Bartel, O.S.B., Saint Vincent Seminary Chancellor. “His portrait should be at the top of the Wikipedia entry for “Pastor!” he added with a nod to Bishop Mark’s longstanding penchant for technology.
“The students, faculty, staff and alumni of Saint Vincent Seminary rejoice in the appointment of Bishop Eckman, S’85, as the thirteenth Bishop of Pittsburgh,” said Very Rev. Edward Mazich, O.S.B., Rector of Saint Vincent Seminary, noting that the bishop is already a member of the Seminary Board of Regents. “We are confident that the strength, kindness, leadership and zeal for the Lord that he has shown through many years of priestly ministry and through his service as Auxiliary Bishop of Pittsburgh will be a great blessing for the entire Diocese of Pittsburgh and the universal Church. Bishop Eckman will remain in our prayers as he takes up his new ministry.”
“The Saint Vincent College community extends our heartfelt congratulations to Bishop Eckman,” said Father Paul Taylor, O.S.B., C’87, S’91, Saint Vincent College President. “We offer our prayers as he assumes leadership of the Diocese of Pittsburgh. As a Saint Vincent alumus, Bishop Eckman knows the academic, spiritual and communal formation that defines our mission. We look forward to his leadership and to partnership with him in advancing the Catholic mission throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania.”
Bishop Eckman was born in Pittsburgh and graduated from Saint Valentine Elementary School in Bethel Park and the former South Hills Catholic High School in Mount Lebanon, now Seton LaSalle Catholic High School. The son of the late Francis and Clarissa Eckman, his siblings are Peggy Mannella of Bethel Park and the late Mary Haugen and Francis Eckman Jr.
He entered priestly formation at Saint Paul Seminary in East Carnegie, is a graduate of Duquesne University in Pittsburgh and received a Master of Divinity degree from Saint Vincent Seminary.
Since his priestly ordination on May 11, 1985, Bishop Eckman served primarily in South Hills parishes: as parochial vicar at five parishes, high school chaplain at Seton LaSalle and DePaul School for Hearing and Speech, pastor at three parishes, and administrator of two parishes.
From July 15, 2013 until July 1, 2020, he was episcopal vicar for clergy personnel. He was assigned administrator of the parishes of Saint Thomas More and Saint John Capistran that merged to become Resurrection Parish, where he remained as pastor (appointed January 4, 2021) during his tenure as auxiliary bishop.
He has also been a member of several boards including priest council, USCCB National Advisory Board, Permanent Diaconate Formation board, the seminary admissions board and priest candidates’ admissions board.
Aside from his priestly duties, Bishop Eckman is devoted to his extended family and also enjoys photography, especially of mountains where he goes hiking and skiing.
In a special edition of Pittsburgh Catholic magazine in honor of his episcopal ordination in 2022, he noted that he felt the call to priesthood in grade school. His seventh-grade teacher, Sister Joanne, planted the seed while teaching the students to pray, telling them that “true prayer is a relationship with the Lord that builds each day for the rest of your life.” It was the same year he was confirmed, and at confirmation the students received a card with a prayer for vocations on it and were encouraged to pray every day.
As a sophomore in high school, he approached one of his parish priests, Father Don Stoney, and told him of his thoughts of a vocation. He was referred to Father Albert Semler, S’67, who was in charge of a pre-seminary program for high school students.
During the consecration as auxiliary bishop, he was accompanied by two priests he chose to assist him during the liturgy: Father Harry Bielewicz, S’86, pastor of Saint Isidore the Farmer Parish, and Father Robert J. Miller, C’75, S’80, pastor of Our Lady of the Valley Parish.
