Pope names new bishop for Diocese of New Ulm

A Minneapolis native whose Catholic ministry has served parishes in the Twin Cities metropolitan area for the past 27 years has been appointed the fourth bishop of the 68,000-member Diocese of New Ulm.

Come late August or early September, the Rev. John M. LeVoir will be installed in the lead position at the diocese, filling a vacancy left in 2007 by the Rev. John C. Nienstedt, now archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

Nienstadt issued a statement Monday praising LeVoir for his dedication as a parish priest.

“He is a priest of deep devotion to Christ and the teachings of his church,” Nienstedt said. “He is also a skilled administrator, having a solid background in the areas of accounting and finance. He has served as a mentor for many of our younger priests. But overall, it is his love for souls — the people entrusted to his pastoral care — that marks the goodness of this man.”

LeVoir said he’s ready to make the transition to Bishop. “I look upon it as an opportunity to serve in a different vocation,” he said. “It’s a different calling.”

For the full story, see the July 22 print edition of the Hutchinson Leader.

(Doug Hanneman is editor of the Hutchinson Leader. He may be reached at hanneman@hutchinsonleader.com)