Pope Francis on November 21, 2017, appointed new bishops to the US dioceses of Nashville and Jefferson City.
The Holy Father appointed as bishop of Nashville, Bishop-elect J. Mark Spalding, of the clergy of the Archdiocese of Louisville, currently vicar general and pastor of the “Holy Trinity Parish” and the “Holy Name Parish” in Louisville.
The Pope also appointed bishop of Jefferson City, Bishop-elect W. Shawn McKnight, of the clergy of the diocese of Wichita, currently pastor of the “Church of the Magdalen Parish” in Wichita.
Msgr. J. Mark Spalding
Msgr. J. Mark Spalding was born on January 13, 1965, in Lebanon, Kentucky, in the Archdiocese of Louisville. After attending Bethlehem High School in Bardstown (1979 to 1983), he carried out his studies in philosophy at the “Saint Meinrad College Seminary” in Saint Meinrad, Indiana (1983-1987), and in theology at the “American College” Seminary in Leuven, Belgium (1987-1991), obtaining a licentiate in canon law from the Catholic University of Leuven (1992).
He was ordained a priest on August 3, 1991, for the Archdiocese of Louisville.
Since priestly ordination he has held the following offices: parish vicar of the “Saint Joseph Proto-Cathedral Parish” in Bardstown (1992-1996), of the “Saint Augustine Parish” in Lebanon (1996-1998), and of the “Saint Margaret Mary Parish” in Louisville (1998-1999); judicial vicar (1998-2011); pastor of the “Immaculate Conception Parish” in LaGrange (1999-2011), of the “Holy Trinity Parish” (since 2011) and the “Holy Name Parish” (since 2016) in Louisville, and vicar general (2011-2017). Since 1998 he has been a member of the presbyteral council and the college of consultors.
Rev. W. Shawn McKnight
The Rev. William Shawn McKnight was born on June 26, 1968, in Wichita, in the diocese of the same name. He attended the University of Dallas, obtaining a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry (1990). He entered the Seminary and carried out his ecclesiastical studies in the Pontifical “Josephinum” College in Columbus, Ohio (1990-1994). He subsequently obtained a licentiate (1999) and a doctorate (2001) in sacramental theology from the Pontifical Saint Anselm Athenaeum in Rome. He has published several articles on sacramental pastoral themes.
He was ordained a priest on May 28, 1994, for the diocese of Wichita.
Since priestly ordination, he has held the following offices: parish vicar of the “Blessed Sacrament Parish” in Wichita (1994-1997); parish administrator of the “Saint Patrick Parish” in Chanute (1999); chaplain and adjunct professor at “Newman University” in Wichita (2000-2001); pastor of the “Saint Mark the Evangelist Parish” in Colwich (2000-2003); diocesan director of Divine Worship, diocesan consultor and member of the presbyteral council (2000-2005); director of liturgy (2003-2007), assistant professor (2003-2008), dean of students (2004-2006), director of formation (2006-2007) and vice-president for “Development and Alumni Relations” (2007-2008) at the Pontifical “Josephinum” College in Columbus, Ohio; pastor of the “Blessed Sacrament Parish” in Wichita (2008-2010); Faculty member of the “Saint Meinrad” Seminary in Indiana for the formation of permanent deacons (2005-2010); executive director for the Office of the Clergy and Consecrated Life of the Episcopal Conference of the United States (2010-2015); pastor of the “Church of the Magdalen” parish in Wichita (since 2015).
JF
