From Harvard Law to Youngest U.S. Bishop: The Call That Changed Robert Boxie’s Life

Washington, D.C., September 2, 2026: A Harvard-trained lawyer who left a promising legal career to pursue the priesthood has now become the youngest Catholic bishop in the United States. Bishop Robert P. Boxie III, 45, was ordained an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Washington in July 2026.

Bishop Boxie’s journey to the episcopacy took him from Lake Charles, Louisiana, to Vanderbilt University and Harvard Law School before leading him into seminary and eventually the priesthood. After graduating from Harvard Law School in 2007, he worked as a federal law clerk and later as an associate at a Washington, D.C., law firm.

Speaking to Catherine Hadro for EWTN News In Depth, Bishop Boxie reflected on the contrast between his legal career and the growing call he experienced towards priesthood.

“I had a great clerkship. I was at a great law firm. I was doing some good work, making some good money, living in a great part of town, really living the D.C. life, if you will. And it was fun,” Bishop Boxie said in the EWTN interview.

Despite that professional success, Bishop Boxie eventually entered seminary for the Archdiocese of Washington. He studied at Theological College in Washington and later continued his formation in Rome, earning a Bachelor of Sacred Theology in 2015 and a Licentiate in Sacred Theology in 2017. He was ordained a priest in 2016.

His priestly ministry included parish assignments before he became Catholic chaplain at Howard University in 2020. He served there until his appointment as auxiliary bishop in 2026, working with students and strengthening Catholic ministry at the Sister Thea Bowman Catholic Student Center.

Bishop Boxie also served the Archdiocese as an assistant vocations director and professor in its permanent diaconate programme. His ministry at Howard placed him particularly close to young Catholics and the Black Catholic community.

Pope Leo XIV appointed Bishop Boxie as an auxiliary bishop of Washington on May 1, 2026. He was ordained to the episcopate on July 7 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.

Reflecting on his decision to leave his legal career for the priesthood, Bishop Boxie told EWTN that the desire for priesthood continued to grow despite the success he had achieved in law.

“But, the Lord called, and he placed this desire that kept growing, and growing, and growing that I couldnʼt simply ignore, or couldnʼt simply disregard,” he said in the interview.

As an auxiliary bishop, Bishop Boxie now serves as Vicar for Cultural Communities and Synodality in the Archdiocese of Washington. His episcopal ministry follows a path that has taken him through law, theological formation, parish ministry and university chaplaincy, bringing those experiences into his new responsibility of serving the Church in Washington.

By Catholic Connect Reporter