Pope Francis has appointed The Reverend Joseph R. Kopacz, PhD, as eleventh Bishop of Jackson. Bishop-elect Kopacz is a priest of the Diocese of Scranton, Pa. The announcement of the appointment was made by Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States. Bishop-elect Kopacz will be ordained and installed on Thursday, Feb. 6, at 12noon in the Cathedral of Saint Peter the Apostle.
A native of Dunmore, Pa., Bishop-elect Kopacz was ordained in 1977 and has served the Scranton diocese as pastor, formation director, vicar for priests, vicar general and coordinator for Hispanic Ministry.
Bishop Joseph N. Latino, who will be administrator of the diocese until the installation, asks all the faithful of the Diocese of Jackson to keep Bishop-elect Kopacz in their prayers and to offer him a warm Mississippi welcome as he begins his many responsibilities as shepherd of the Diocese of Jackson.
