UPDATED: Msgr. Kemme appointed Bishop of Wichita

His Holiness Pope Francis has appointed the Reverend Monsignor Carl A. Kemme, until now Vicar General of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, Bishop of Wichita.  He is a much beloved priest of our Diocese and will be greatly missed.  The faithful of the Diocese of Wichita will be very blessed to have him as their Bishop.

In a brief congratulatory message on Facebook this morning, His Excellency the Most Reverend Thomas John Paprocki said Pope Francis "has chosen wisely."

The Bishop-elect will be ordained on May 1st, the Solemnity of Saint Joseph the Worker.

Congratulations, Bishop-elect Kemme!

Updates: Rocco provides a brief summary of the Bishop-elect's ministry in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois.

The Diocese of Wichita has published a biography of the Bishop-elect and a letter from their new Bishop, who says, in part:

On February 11, 2014, the Memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes, I learned that Pope Francis had chosen me, unworthy and weak as I am, to be your new bishop. After recovering from the shock of this news, I accepted this appointment in humble obedience to the will of God. I gladly come to make my home with you and pledge to serve you with as much dedication, energy, and pastoral charity my body, mind, heart and soul can offer. Although naturally a bit apprehensive, I am very excited to begin this new chapter in my vocation.

 A news release has also been published.

The Diocese of Springfield in Illinois has issued it's own press release, complete with video statements from Bishop-elect Kemme and from Bishop Paprocki.

Bishop-elect addresses the faithful of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois:


Bishop-elect Kemme Message to the People of the Diocese of Springfield from Diocese of Springfield in IL on Vimeo.