Early life

Mark Eckman was born on February 9, 1959, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He attend Saint Valentine Elementary School and South Hills Catholic High School in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania.^[1]

After his high school graduation, Eckman entered Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1981. He continued his studies at Saint Vincent Seminary in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. ^[2]

Priesthood

On May 11, 1985, Eckman was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Pittsburgh by Archbishop Anthony Bevilacqua at St. Paul Cathedral in Pittsburgh,^[2][3]After his 1985 ordination, the diocese assigned Eckman as parochial vicar at the following Pennsylvania dioceses:

• Resurrection in Pittsburgh (1985 to 1990)
• Saint Sebastian in Pittsburgh (1990 to 1991)
• Saint Valentine in Bethel Park (1991 to 1992)
• Saint Winifred in Pittsburgh (1992 to 1994). He also served as chaplain at Seton-LaSalle Catholic High School during this period.
• Saint John Vianney in Pittsburgh (1994 to 1998). He was chaplain at the DePaul School for Hearing and Speech in Pittsburgh at this time.^[2]

The diocese in 1998 placed Eckman as pastor at Saint Sylvester Parish in Pittsburgh, where he would serve for the next 11 years. In 2006, he also became pastor at St. Norbert Parish in Pittsburgh. The diocese transferred Eckman from both parishes in 2009, naming him pastor of Saint Thomas More Parish. He would remain at Saint Thomas More until 2021. Bishop David Zubik named Eckman as episcopal vicar for clergy personnel in 2013.^[2]

Auxiliary Bishop of Pittsburgh

Pope Francis appointed Eckman as an auxiliary bishop for the Diocese of Pittsburgh on November 5, 2021.^[2][1][4] On January 11, 2022, Eckman was consecrated by Bishop David Zubik at St. Paul Cathedral, with with Bishops David Bonnar and Edward J. Burns serving as co-consecrators.^[5]