Born: October 7, 1957, in Pittsburgh, PA.
The son of (late) Donald P. and Geraldine Little Burns.
Secondary education at Lincoln High School (graduated 1975) in Ellwood City, PA.
Received a B.A. degree (Philosophy and Sociology - graduated 1979) from Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA while in priestly formation at St. Paul Seminary.
Received a Master of Divinity degree and a Master of Theology degree from Mt. St. Mary Seminary, Emmitsburg, MD.
Ordained a priest for the Diocese of Pittsburgh by the Most Reverend Vincent M. Leonard on June 25, 1983.
Ordained a Bishop at Saint Paul's Cathedral in Pittsburgh on March 3, 2009, and installed as Bishop in the Diocese of Juneau at Saint Paul the Apostle Catholic Church on April 2, 2009.
Installed as Bishop in the Diocese of Dallas at the Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe on February 9, 2017.