(Kansas City, MO)  The Holy See Press Office this morning reported Pope Francis has appointed Springfield – Cape Girardeau Bishop James V. Johnston, Jr. as 7th Bishop of Kansas City – St. Joseph. Bishop Johnston was Consecrated as Bishop for the Diocese of Springfield – Cape Girardeau on March 31, 2008. He will continue as Administrator of that diocese until his Installation as Bishop of Kansas City - St. Joseph on November 4.

 

Most Reverend Joseph F. Naumann, Apostolic Administrator of Kansas City - St. Joseph, will introduce Bishop Johnston to Chancery staff at 10:00 a.m. this morning in the Catholic Center, 20 W. 9th St. in Kansas City. Press are invited and Bishop Johnston will answer questions following his presentation.

 

Bishop Johnston was born on October 16, 1959 in Knoxville, Tennessee. He attended Catholic elementary and secondary school and in 1982 earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

 

Bishop Johnston left a career in engineering in 1985 in order to pursue a call to the priesthood. He attended St. Meinrad School of Theology in Indiana, obtained his Master of Divinity Degree there in 1990 and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Knoxville on June 9, 1990. He earned a Licentiate in Canon Law from the Catholic University of America in 1996.

 

In Knoxville, he served in parish ministry and as Chancellor and Moderator of the Curia. In 2005, Bishop Johnston and two other priests were awarded the Citizens Award for Bravery by the U.S. Department of the Interior for helping save a family in danger of plunging over a waterfall in Glacier National Park.

 

As Bishop of Springfield – Cape Girardeau he has successfully encouraged vocations to the priesthood, helped establish Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri and supported the Catholic Worker movement.

 

Among his national commitments, Bishop Johnston served on the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Child and Youth Protection and is currently Episcopal Liaison to the National Council of Catholic Women.

 

Bishop Johnston’s Episcopal Motto is “THE LOVE OF CHRIST URGES US ON”.

 

The full text of Bishop Johnston's remarks will be posted here at the conclusion of his meeting with press and chancery staff.