Baker is New Bishop of Birmingham

I think I can hear the cheers from Hanceville already. After 27 long months, the Diocese of Birmingham finally has a bishop and he is a friend of EWTN. He even wrote a book with Fr. Benedict Groeschel.

Here is my rough translation of this morning's bolletino.
The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI has named as bishop of Birmingham, His Excellency Robert Joseph Baker (U.S.A.), who until now was bishop of Charleston.

His excellency Robert J. Baker was born in Willard, in the diocese of Toledo (Ohio) on June 4, 1944. He attended the elementary school of the parish of Saint Gwendaline in his hometown. He then attended and graduated from the Josephinum High School in Columbus (Ohio), before entereing the Pontifical College Josephinum, also in Columbus. Later on, he earned a license in theology [STL] from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and was then sent to Rome and graduated from the Pontifical Gregorian Institute(1972-1975).

He was ordained to the priesthood on March 21, 1970 and incardinated into the diocse of Saint Augustine (Florida). He served in several positions: as Assiciate pastor of Saint Paul Parish e teacher at Bishop Kenny High School in Jacksonville Beach, director of the diocesean marriage preparation program(1970-1972); spiritual director of the Pontifical College Josephinum (1975-1976); Administrator of St. Augustine's in Gainesville, a parish attended by students from the University of Florida (1976-1981); Professor of theology at the regional seminary of Saint Vincent de Paul in Boynton Beach (1981-1984); rector of the Cathedral of Saint Augustine (1984-1997); Pastor of Christ the King Parish, the largest parish in the diocese (1997 - 1999).
He was named bishop of Charleston on July 13, 1999, and ordained a bishop on September 29 of the same year.