Edward M. Rice

Edward Matthew Rice (born July 28, 1960) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He has been serving as bishop of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau in Missouri since 2016. Rice previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of St. Louis in Missouri from 2010 to 2016.

Early life and education
Edward Rice was born July 28, 1960, in St. Louis, Missouri, one of the ten children of John and Helen (nee Madden) Rice. He graduated from St. Mary's High School in St. Louis.

Rich received his Master of Divinity degree from Kenrick School of Theology in Shrewsbury, Missouri, in 1987. Rice was ordained a deacon on May 3, 1986, by Bishop J. Terry Steib.

Priestly Ordination and ministry
Rice was ordained to the priesthood at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis for the Archdiocese of St. Louis on January 3, 1987, by Archbishop John L. May. The archdiocese assigned Rick as associate pastor at the follow parishes in Missouri:


 * Our Lady of Presentation in Overland (1987 to 1991)
 * St. Mary Magdalen in St. Louis (1991 to 1995). He also joined the faculty at St. Mary's High School during this period.

In 1995, Rice left his other positions to become assistant director of Cardinal Glennon College in Shrewsbury, the minor seminary of the archdiocese. He was named director of Cardinal Glennon in 1996. Rice left Cardinal Glennon in 2000 after his appointment as pastor of St. John the Baptist Parish in St. Louis.

In 2008, Rice was named director of the Office of Vocations for the archdiocese. On July 2, 2008, Rice was appointed by the Vatican as a chaplain of his holiness with the title monsignor.

Auxiliary Bishop of St. Louis
On December 1, 2010, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Rice as an auxiliary bishop of Saint Louis and titular bishop of Sufes. He was consecrated on January 13, 2011, at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis in St. Louis. Archbishop Robert Carlson was the principal consecrator. Bishops John R. Gaydos and Richard F. Stika were the principal co-consecrators.

Bishop of Springfield-Cape Girardeau
On April 26, 2016, Pope Francis appointed Rice as bishop of Springfield-Cape Girardeau. His installation took place June 1, 2016, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Springfield, Missouri.