Bishop's Biography

Most Reverend Kevin M. Britt

Return to Bishop Britt Page

 The Most Reverend Kevin M. Britt

Bishop Kevin Michael Britt is the 10th bishop of the Diocese of Grand Rapids.

FAMILY
He was born on Nov. 19, 1944, in Detroit to the late Rose and Edward Britt, formerly of Redford Township, Mich. Bishop Britt has one sister, Virginia (Jack) Pitman.

EDUCATION
Bishop Britt holds a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy from Sacred Heart Seminary, Detroit; a master of arts degree in religious studies from the University of Detroit; and a master of divinity degree from St. John's Provincial Seminary, Plymouth, Mich.

Additional studies include: Ministry Training Services, a Denver-based Jesuit program in Spirituality and Spiritual Direction; sign language, Clinical Pastoral Education at Mount Carmel Mercy Hospital, Detroit; and Spanish studies in Guadalajara, Mexico. Bishop Britt studied canon Law at the Pontifical Lateran University, Rome.

CAREER
Bishop Britt was ordained to the priesthood on June 28, 1970, at St. Agatha Parish, Redford Township, Mich. Following his ordination, Bishop Britt served as associate pastor of St. Martin Parish, Detroit; co-pastor of St. Agatha Parish, Redford; and assistant spiritual director and spiritual director at Sacred Heart Seminary, Detroit.

In 1981, Bishop Britt was appointed secretary to then Archbishop Edmund C. Szoka. In 1988, he was appointed pastor of St. Alphonsus Parish in Dearborn, Mich. In March of 1990, he received the title Monsignor as Prelate of Honor to His Holiness.

In June of 1990, Bishop Britt was appointed personal secretary to His Eminence Edmund Cardinal Szoka in Rome and to the Staff of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See.

On Nov. 23, 1993, Pope John Paul II named Bishop Britt an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Detroit. He was ordained a bishop on Jan. 6, 1994, by the then Most Reverend Adam J. Maida, archbishop of Detroit.
Bishop Britt served as the vicar of the Office of Pastoral Services for Clergy of the Archdiocese of Detroit. In addition, he oversaw the Vicariates of Birmingham-Bloomfield-Troy, Farmington-Southfield, Pontiac, Southeast Oakland, Thumb, Vicariate of the Lakes, Northwest Detroit and West Detroit.

In December 2002, Pope John Paul II appointed Bishop Britt as Coadjutor Bishop of the Diocese of Grand Rapids. In February 2002, Bishop Britt formally became coadjutor during a Mass of Welcome ceremony held at the Cathedral of St. Andrew in downtown Grand Rapids.

Bishop Britt became the 10th bishop of the Diocese of Grand Rapids upon the retirement of Bishop Robert J. Rose on Oct. 13, 2003.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS/ADDITIONAL ROLES
In November 2001, Bishop Britt was elected chairman of the Vocations Committee of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). In December 2002, he was elected a member of the USCCB National Advisory Council. Other USCCB involvement includes his position as the bishop chair of the Midwest Catholic-Islamic Dialogue for the Committee on Interreligious Affairs as well as the Sub-Committee for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs for the USCCB. He also serves as a member of the conference's Personnel Committee.

Bishop Britt is the episcopal advisor of the U.S.A. Council of Serra International, and serves as the supreme chaplain of the International Order of Alhambra.

Bishop Britt also serves on the Advisory Board of Guest House, Inc., Lake Orion, Mich.