Pope Francis on February 5, 2018, appointed as Auxiliary Bishop of Atlanta, United States of America, the Rev. Father Joel M. Konzen, S.M, of the Society of Mary, dean of the “Marist School” in Atlanta, Georgia, assigning him the episcopal see of Leavenworth.
“This morning Pope Francis has once again demonstrated his great love for this local Church by assigning The Reverend Joel M. Konzen, S.M., as an Auxiliary Bishop,” said Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Atlanta. “Bishop-Elect Konzen has spent nearly two decades in pastoral service to this Archdiocese, most of it in caring for and educating students at Marist School. He has been an effective and generous administrator and advisor to the educational ministry of thousands of young people and their parents at Marist, Notre Dame Academy, and most recently at Cristo Rey Atlanta Jesuit High School. His Episcopal Ordination will be on Easter Tuesday, April 3.”
Bishop-Elect Joel M. Konzen, S.M.
Bishop-Elect Joel M. Konzen, S.M. was born on November 6, 1950, in Oak Harbor, in the diocese of Toledo, Ohio. After attending the “Pontifical College Josephinum” secondary school in Columbus, Ohio (1964-1968), he obtained a baccalaureate in English literature from the “Saint Meinrad” Seminary in Indiana (1968-1972). He obtained a “Master of Divinity” from the “Notre Dame School of Theology” in New Orleans, Louisiana, (1972-1974, 1978-1979). He attended the “Marist College” in Washington, D.C. (1975-1976). He obtained a master’s degree in theology from the Catholic University of America in Washington (1977-1978). He later obtained a master’s degree in educational administration from the Catholic University of America (1989-1991).
In 1974, he joined the Society of Mary; he gave his first vows in 1975 and was appointed as a seminarian at the “Saint Peter Chanel High School” in Bedford, Ohio (1976-1977).
He performed the diaconal ministry at the “Saint Andrew the Apostle Parish” in New Orleans (1978-1979).
He was ordained a priest on May 19, 1979, for the Society of Mary.
After priestly ordination, he served as parish vicar of the “Saint Edmond Parish” in Lafayette, Louisiana (1979-1980). He then held various positions at the “Marist School” in Atlanta, Georgia: teacher and director of enrolments (1980-1982), head official (1982-1988 and from 1999) and president (1988-1989). In addition, he was Provincial Vicar of the Marists in Washington (1990-1992, 1997-1999) and president/head of the “Saint Michael’s Academy” High School in Austin, Texas (1992-1997). Since 1999 he has been headmaster of the “Marist School” in Atlanta.
In addition to English, he knows Spanish, Italian, French and German.
JF
