On Friday the Vatican announced that Pope Francis accepted the
retirement of Bishop Roger Morin of Biloxi, and appointed Louisiana
native Msgr. Louis Kihneman as his successor.
A priest of the Diocese of Corpus Christi for 39 years, Msgr.
Kihneman, 64, said in a Dec. 16 press release announcing his appointment
that he accepts the Holy Father’s nomination with “great joy and deep
humility and faith.”
“I have been deeply touched by the welcome and hospitality that I
have already received, especially from Bishop Morin and my brother
priests,” he said.
Born in Lafayette, La. Feb. 17, 1952, Msgr. Kihneman grew up in
various places along the Gulf Coast, including Corpus Christi, Texas,
where he was ordained a priest Nov. 18, 1977.
As a son of a family from the Gulf Coast area, Kihneman said he has
“fond memories of summers and summer camp as a boy in the area,” and
feels that in some ways “the Lord has lead me full circle…back home.”
The priest has held a large number of positions within the diocese
over the course of his priesthood, including the Diocesan Director of
Religious Education from 1978-1983.
From 1986-1993 he stayed busy as Director of Vocations, Director of
Seminarians, Director of Ministry to Priests, and Director of the St.
John Vianney House of Studies and Christian Leadership Vocations
Program.
He has also acted as Associate Vicar for Clergy (1988-1995), Tribunal Advocate (1983-1987) and Chancellor (2013-2014).
Vicar General of the diocese since 2010, Msgr. Kihneman was the 2011
recipient of the NCEA Distinguished Pastor Award in recognition of his
outstanding support for Catholic Education.
“I look forward to getting to know you and growing with you in the
love of Jesus Christ and together sharing that love with all our brother
and sisters,” he said.
“We have a deep call to share the Word of God, the Good News with all
and to bring them to Christ. I look forward to building on all the good
work that has already been done. May our loving God bless us as we
build up his kingdom together.”
In a Dec. 16 statement, Bishop Morin called Msgr. Kihneman’s
appointment “a wonderful early Christmas gift from Pope Francis” for the
people of the Diocese of Biloxi.
Msgr. Kihneman will be ordained and installed as the Bishop of Biloxi
Feb. 17, 2017 – his 65th birthday – at the Nativity of the Blessed
Virgin Mary Cathedral in Biloxi.