Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh Aux. Bishop Mark Eckman, one of three auxiliary bishops in the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, was taken to George Washington University Hospital in Washington, D.C., earlier this week.
He was at an event for new bishops and became ill.
Jennifer Antkowiak, executive director of communications and community relations for the diocese, said via email he is being treated for an infection in his arm.
“Bishop Eckman was in Washington, D.C., for meetings when the infection occurred,” Antkowiak said. “He expects to be in the hospital for several days.”
Bishop David Zubik is in continual contact with Eckman, Antkowiak said.
“He asks for prayers for Bishop Eckman as his treatment continues,” Antkowiak said.
A community prayer chain was requested by members of this faith community who received a note from Zubik “to remember him in your prayers.”
Eckman was ordained as an auxiliary bishop on Jan. 11, 2022, in St. Paul Cathedral in Oakland. Zubik was joined with Bishop David J. Bonnar of the Diocese of Youngstown, and Bishop Edward J. Burns of the Diocese of Dallas. Both are former priests of the Diocese of Pittsburgh. Archbishop Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States of America, also was present.
Eckman graduated from Saint Valentine Elementary School in Bethel Park and the former South Hills Catholic in Mt. Lebanon, now Seton LaSalle Catholic High School.
He has an undergraduate degree from Duquesne University and received a master of divinity degree from St. Vincent Seminary in Latrobe. He was ordained a priest on May 11, 1985, and primarily served in the South Hills of Pittsburgh. Eckman was the diocese’s Episcopal vicar for clergy personnel from July 15, 2013, to July 1, 2020. He was then assigned to be the administrator to the parishes of Saint Thomas More and Saint John Capistran, which merged to become Resurrection Parish in January 2021.
He has served on the National Advisory Board of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
