Pope Francis has named Monsignor Louis Kihneman III, 64, as bishop of Biloxi, Mississippi, and accepted the resignation of Bishop Roger Morin, 75, from the pastoral governance of that diocese. Msgr. Kihneman is a priest of the Diocese of Corpus Christi, Texas, and currently serves as vicar general.
Louis Kihneman III, was born on February 17, 1952, in Lafayette, Louisiana. He holds a bachelor of arts degree and master degrees in religious education and theology from the University of St. Thomas, Houston. He attended St. Mary’s seminary, Houston, and was ordained as a priest of the Diocese of Corpus Christi on November 18, 1977.
Assignments after ordination included, parochial vicar at: San Isidro Labrador Church, Arteaga, Mexico, 1977; St. Anthony of Padua Church, Robstown, Texas, 1978; Christ the King parish, Corpus Christi, 1980; Saints Cyril and Methodius Church, Corpus Christi, 1981. Pastor, Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Alice, 1983; diocesan director of vocations and seminarians, 1986-1993; director, St. John Vianney House of Studies, 1986-1993; director of Christian leadership vocations, 1986-1993; pastor, Sacred Heart Church, Rockport, 1993-2011; vicar general, 2010-present; pastor, St. Philip Church, Corpus Christi, 2014 – present.
Other assignments include: marriage tribunal advocate, 1983-1987; diocesan director of religious education, 1978-1983; priest personnel board, 1984-1993; associate vicar for clergy, 1988-1995; presbyteral council member, 1977-1986; 2000-present; and as chancellor, 2013-2014.
Bishop Roger P. Morin was born on March 7, 1941, in Lowell, Massachusetts. He was ordained a priest on April 15, 1971; he was appointed auxiliary bishop of New Orleans on February 11, 2003, and ordained a bishop on April 22, 2003. He was appointed bishop of Biloxi on February 23, 2009, and was installed on April 27, 2009.
The Diocese of Biloxi comprises 9,653 square miles in the state of Mississippi. It has a total population of 818,801 people of which 57,912 or 7%, are Catholic.
