Religion
Michael J. Byrnes
1958–2025 · Catholic Archbishop of Agaña (Guam)
Detroit-born priest who served as an auxiliary bishop of Detroit before leading the Catholic Church in Guam; he died in Detroit in 2025.
- Born
Detroit, Michigan- Died
Detroit, Michigan
aged 66- Birth name
- Michael Jude Byrnes
- Detroit years
- 1958–2016, 2022–2025
- Field
- Religion
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Michael Jude Byrnes was born in Detroit on August 23, 1958, graduated from Detroit Catholic Central High School and went on to the University of Michigan. After college he worked in campus ministry at Eastern Michigan University and belonged to a lay Catholic brotherhood, the Servants of the Word, before choosing the priesthood. Cardinal Adam Maida ordained him at Detroit's Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in 1996. He served as a parish pastor and, from 2004, as vice rector of Sacred Heart Major Seminary. In 2011 he was consecrated an auxiliary bishop of Detroit in the same cathedral. In 2016 he was sent to Guam as coadjutor archbishop while the church there faced an abuse crisis, and he led the Archdiocese of Agaña from 2019 to 2023. Living with Alzheimer's disease, he returned to the Detroit area in 2022 and died under hospice care in Detroit on May 30, 2025.
Highlights
- Ordained a priest at Detroit's cathedral in 1996 by Cardinal Adam Maida
- Vice rector of Sacred Heart Major Seminary from 2004
- Auxiliary bishop of Detroit, 2011–2016
- Archbishop of Agaña, Guam, 2019–2023
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 2
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Related place · 1996, 2011
Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament
Detroit's cathedral, where he was ordained a priest in 1996 and consecrated a bishop on May 5, 2011.
Worked here · 2004–2011
Sacred Heart Major Seminary
Detroit's Catholic seminary, where he served as vice rector from 2004.