Born in Chicago February 22, 1937, Archbishop Vlazny attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago and St. Mary of the Lake Seminary, Mundelein, IL., where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1958. He attended the North American College and the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome earning Sacred Theology Bachelor degree in 1960 and a Sacred Theology Licentiate degree in 1962. He later earned a Master of Arts degree in the Classics from the University of Michigan in 1967, and a Master of Education degree in School Administration from Loyola University, Chicago, in 1972. Archbishop Vlazny was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Ministry degree from St. Mary's University, Winona, in 1998, an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Portland, Portland, OR, 1999, and an Honorary Doctor of Theology degree from Mount Angel Seminary in 2010.
He was ordained a priest at St. Peter's Basilica, Rome, on December 20, 1961. As a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago, Father Vlazny served as Associate Pastor in five parishes between 1962 and 1979. At the same time he served on the faculty of Quigley Preparatory North in Chicago from 1963 to 1979. He was Dean of Studies at Quigley Preparatory North from 1969 - 1979.
Father Vlazny was President of the Presbyteral Senate for the Archdiocese of Chicago 1976 to 1977. He was appointed Pastor of St. Aloysius Parish in Chicago, where he served from 1979 - 1981. He was appointed Rector of Niles College Seminary in 1981, and served in that position until 1983.
He was named a Bishop by Pope John Paul II, and was ordained an Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago at Holy Name Cathedral, Chicago, on December 13, 1983. As Auxiliary Bishop, he served as Episcopal Vicar for Lake County and Northwestern Suburban Cook County. He was appointed Bishop of Winona, MN., by Pope John Paul II on May 19, 1987, and was installed as the sixth Bishop of Winona on July 29, 1987. On October 28, 1997 he was appointed the tenth Archbishop of Portland in Oregon.
Archbishop Emeritus of Portland in Oregon, April 2, 2013
Member of the Board, Mt. Angel Abbey Foundation.
Archbishop Vlazny previously served on United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (previously National Conference of Catholic Bishops) committees:
Chairman of the NCCB Vocations Committee,
Chairman of the NCCB Committee on Evangelization,
Chairman of USCCB Committee on University Presidents and Bishops,
Chairman of USCCB Committee on Women in Society and in the Church,
Chairman of USCCB Committee on the Economic Concerns of the Holy See,
Chairman of the USCCB Committee on National Collections
Member of the USCCB Administrative Committee
Member of the Committee on Migration and Refugee Services,
Member of the NCCB Priestly Formation Committee,
Member of the NCCB Subcommittee on the Millennium,
Member of the NCCB Committee on Consecrated Life,
Member of the USCCB Committee for the North American College in Rome,
Member of the USCCB Committee for Hispanic Affairs,
Member of the USCCB Committee on the Relationship between Eastern and Latin Catholic Churches,
Member of the USCCB Committee on Catechesis,
Member of the USCCB Committee on Diocesan Audits,
Member of the USCCB Committee on Conciliation and Arbitration
Member of the USCCB Committee on Shrines
Member of the USCCB Task Force on Faith Formation & Sacramental Practice
Consultant, USCCB Committee on African-American Catholics
Consultant to the USCCB Committee on Divine Worship
Other Episcopal Services:
Member of the board of Sacred Heart School of Theology, Hales Corner, WI (1985 - 1994),
Member of the board of the Catholic Communications foundation (1989 - 2007),
Chairman of the Board of Oregon Catholic Press (1997 - 2013),
Chairman of the Board, Oregon Catholic Conference (1997 - 2013),
former Chairman, Region XII Catholic Bishops
Member of the Board of Directors, Mt. Angel Seminary, St. Benedict, OR (2000 - 2013)
Episcopal Moderator, Catholic Cemetery Conference (2000 - 2009),
Episcopal Liaison, National Council of Catholic Women (2001 - 2006),
Trustee of the Catholic United Investment Trust, Christian Brothers Investment Service (2000 - 2007),
Member of the Board of Advisors, Erasmus Institute, Notre Dame University (2001 - 2006).
