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	New Bishop Named for Mo. Diocese By Tim Townsend St. Louis Post-Dispatch January 24, 2008 http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/religion/story/021B6F8BB9964A3C862573DB00078223?OpenDocument Pope Benedict XVI named the Rev. James Vann Johnston Jr., a priest in the diocese of Knoxville, Tenn., as the sixth bishop of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau Thursday. Johnston, a 48-year-old native of Knoxville, will succeed Bishop John Leibrecht, 77, who has led the Springfield-Cape Girardeau diocese for more than 23 years. Johnston is chancellor of the Knoxville diocese and pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Church in Alcoa, Tenn. Leibrecht attended St. Louis Archdiocesan Latin School, St. Louis Preparatory Seminary and later Kenrick Seminary. In 1956, he was ordained to the priesthood by Cardinal Joseph Ritter of St. Louis. Leibrecht worked in Catholic education in the St. Louis archdiocese for 20 years, including nine years as superintendent. The Springfield-Girardeau diocese covers nearly 26,000 square miles of southern Missouri. The diocese includes 66 parishes and 66 diocesan priests serving 65,000 Catholics. There are 50,000 Catholics in the Knoxville diocese, which includes 44 parishes and 54 diocesan priests. Johnston will be ordained a bishop and installed on March 31, 2008. After taking a sabbatical of several months, Leibrecht will retire in Springfield and assist in parishes throughout the diocese. Contact: ttownsend@post-dispatch.com | 314-340-8221
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