Michael Thomas MartinOFM Conv. (born December 2, 1961) is anAmerican Catholic prelate who has served asBishop of Charlotte since 2024. He is a member of theOrder of Friars Minor Conventual.

Styles of Michael Thomas Martin
Reference style	His Excellency The Most Reverend
Spoken style	Your Excellency
Religious style	Bishop

Michael Martin was born on December 2, 1961, inBaltimore, Maryland, to Beverly Beatty and Donald Martin. He attendedArchbishop Curley High School in that city. After high school, Martin entered the Franciscannovitiate atEllicott City, Maryland, in August 1979 and professed hissolemn vows to the order on August 2, 1985.^[1][2] In the meantime he earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Saint Hyacinth Seminary inGranby, Massachusetts, aBaccalaureate in Sacred Theology from thePontifical University of St. Bonaventure in Rome, and a master's degree in education fromBoston College.

Martin was ordained to thepriesthood for the Franciscan Order on June 10, 1989, by BishopJohn Huston Ricard atSt. Casimir Church in Baltimore.^[3][4] After his ordination, the Franciscans assigned Martin as a teacher and coach atSaint Francis High School inAthol Springs, New York.

In 1994, he was transferred to back to Baltimore to teach and coach at Archbishop Curley High School. He was ultimately named as principal and then president at the school. Martin led a successful $7 million capital campaign at Archbishop Curley and increased its enrollment after a decline during the 1990s.^[3][5] Because of his work there, the Vatican awarded Martin itsPro Ecclesia et Pontifice award in 2007.^[3]

In 2010, the Franciscans sent Martin toNorth Carolina to serve as director of theDuke University Catholic Center.^[3] After 12 years at Duke, Martin received his first pastoral appointment as pastor of St. Philip Benizi Church inJonesboro, Georgia.^[3]

On April 9, 2024,Pope Francis accepted the resignation of BishopPeter Jugis of Charlotte due to his "chronic but non-life-threatening" kidney issues, and appointed Martin as his successor.^[3][6][7] With Martin's appointment, the Conventual Franciscans became the most represented religious community among theactive bishops of the United States.^[8]

Martin'sepiscopal consecration occurred on May 29, 2024, at St. Mark Catholic Church inHuntersville, North Carolina.^[9] He was consecrated by ArchbishopGregory Hartmayer, with Jugis and CardinalChristophe Pierre serving as co-consecrators.^[4]

• Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte Official Site
• Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta Official Site