Bishop John Joseph McDermott

The Most Reverend John Joseph McDermott was born on March 19, 1963, in Red Bank, New Jersey, the son of the late Robert and Jacqueline (Sullivan) McDermott.

Following the conclusion of his grammar school and high school education, Bishop McDermott attended the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut, and he completed his studies for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Philosophy (B.A.) at Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, North Carolina. He then entered Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland, earning the degrees of Master of Divinity (M.Div.) and Master of Arts (M.A.) in theology. He was ordained to the sacred priesthood by Bishop John A. Marshall, on June 3, 1989, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Burlington, Vermont. Bishop McDermott also earned the degree of Licentiate in Canon Law (J.C.L.) from the Catholic University of America in 2004.

Bishop McDermott’s priestly ministry began as parochial vicar at St. Augustine Parish in Montpelier, Vermont (1989-1992). He also served as parochial vicar at St. Mark Parish in Burlington, Vermont (1992-1996). During this period, he also served as Chaplain at Rice Memorial Catholic High School. He served as Administrator and then as Pastor of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Middlebury, and St. Bernadette Parish, in Bridport, Vermont, and as Catholic Chaplain to Middlebury College (1996-2001). During the course of his studies in Canon Law, Bishop McDermott served as Associate Director of the Catholic Center at the University of Vermont (2001-2003; 2004-2005), and as Pastor of St. Thomas Parish in Underhill, Vermont, and St. Mary Parish in Cambridge, Vermont (2003-2004). Upon completion of these assignments, Bishop McDermott was named Vice-Chancellor (2004) and then named as Chancellor of the Diocese (2005), and then as Moderator of the Curia (2006-2009) while continuing as Chancellor. He has served in the Diocesan Tribunal as the Defender of the Bond and Promoter of Justice since the completion of his canonical studies in September of 2004. In June of 2009, Bishop McDermott was appointed Vicar General of the Diocese of Burlington, while continuing as Chancellor, together with his offices in the Diocesan Tribunal.

Bishop McDermott served as the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Burlington during the 2014 interregnum and was then re-appointed as Vicar General, Moderator of the Curia and Chancellor by Bishop Christopher J. Coyne in 2015. In addition to these diocesan duties, he served as Pastor of Christ the King-St. Anthony Parish, Burlington, from 2015-2021, and since 2021, he also has served as the Director of The Catholic Center at the University of Vermont. He was elected Diocesan Administrator of the Diocese of Burlington in October 2023 following the appointment of Bishop Coyne as Coadjutor Archbishop of Hartford.

Bishop McDermott has served on a number of diocesan consultative bodies, including the Continuing Education for Clergy, the Presbyteral Council, Diocesan Building Commission, the College of Consultors, Diocesan Administrative Board, Diocesan Finance Council, Vocation/Seminarian Board, Priests’ Benefit Fund and Diocesan Review Board. Previously he served as the Diocesan Master of Ceremonies and Priest Secretary to Bishop Salvatore R. Matano (2005-2009). He was named a Chaplain to His Holiness on August 25, 2008, and a Prelate of Honor in 2012.

On July 15, 2024 Bishop John J. McDermott was Ordained and Installed as the 11th Bishop of Burlington at The Cathedral of St. Joseph in Burlington