Thursday, January 24, 2008

Fr James Vann Johnston Jr., JCL, Appointed Bishop-elect of Springfield–Cape Girardeau, Mo.

KNOXVILLE—His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI announced today that he has appointed the Rev. James Vann Johnston Jr., JCL, currently chancellor and moderator of the curia for the Diocese of Knoxville, to lead the Diocese of Springfield–Cape Girardeau, Mo.

Bishop-elect Johnston’s ordination and installation as bishop of Springfield–Cape Girardeau is scheduled for Monday, March 31, in Springfield, Mo.
[...]
Bishop-elect Johnston was ordained a priest on June 9, 1990; he was the second priest ordained in the Diocese of Knoxville and the first priest ever ordained at Holy Ghost Church in Knoxville.

He will be the sixth bishop to lead the Springfield–Cape Girardeau Diocese, succeeding Bishop John Joseph Leibrecht, who has served there since 1984. Bishop Leibrecht is 77 years old; at age 75 bishops must submit their resignation to the Vatican. The Diocese of Springfield–Cape Girardeau is home to 65,000 Catholics, 5.9 percent of the population.
Good news for the faithful of Springfield-Cape Girardeau.

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