It’s not every day a Catholic gets a personal message from the pope. For bishop-designate John LeVoir, it came in the form of an offer he couldn’t refuse. “I received a call through the Apostolic Nunciature [papal embassy] in Washington, D.C., one of the monsignors who is a secretary told me that Benedict XVI wanted me to be a bishop, and the Bishop of New Ulm,” LeVoir recalled. “He said, ‘What’s my answer, ‘yes’ or ‘no?’”
The question shocked LeVoir, who, at age 62, had spent his religious career as a parish priest and was completely unaware he was being considered for such a high office.
Although LeVoir could have refused the promotion, he said, he knew great preparation had already gone into selecting him, and that the decision wasn’t taken lightly.
Bishops must have suggested him among a pool of candidates, he said.
The Vatican must have already vetted him.
And most importantly, Pope Benedict XVI gave his explicit approval.
People in high places were putting faith in LeVoir’s abilities, and he wasn’t about to let them down.
“I asked the monsignor for some time to think about it, to pray about it,” LeVoir said. “That was June 30. I had until July 4 to decide. I called the monsignor back on July 3 and said ‘yes.’”
Laughing, LeVoir added, “He was very happy with my decision.”
In a matter of weeks, LeVoir has gone from leading a pair of local parishes of roughly 6,000 parishioners to administrating a diocese — one of only five in Minnesota — serving 77 parishes and 68,000 parishioners. While honored by the promotion, LeVoir has no illusions about the task ahead.
His duties will include ensuring that Catholic doctrine and sacraments are observed within the diocese, that its organization is well run, and that people’s physical and spiritual needs are met, especially those of the poor. It’s a monumental task for which he hopes his 27 years of pastoral experience have prepared him.
While LeVoir’s decades of religious experience are valuable, the years he spent as a CPA before entering seminary won’t work against him, he said.
As in any organization, budgets are a big deal. And he’ll be traveling a lot. One of his early goals, he said, is to visit every parish in the diocese as soon as possible.
“It’s a lot of responsibility and I’m nervous that I’ll do my duties properly,” he said. “I’m going in with the idea that there’s a lot that I have to learn. I’ve never been a bishop before, so I’m going to do a lot of listening to the priests, to the religious, to the lay people just to learn about the diocese.”
On LeVoir’s reading list is an extensive history of the diocese and its 50-year history.
Msgr. Douglas Grams, who directs priest personnel at for the New Ulm diocese, said LeVoir is more than up to the task.
“Given his experience as a parish priest, I think he’s going to come with great deal of pastoral sensitivity,” Grams said. “He’s certainly committed to the church and everything the church believes and teaches. I’ve met him three times, and I think he’s incredibly gentle, and he asks lots of questions, which I think is a sign of a wise pastor.”
Born in Minneapolis, LeVoir worked as an accountant before choosing the priesthood at age 31. He was ordained in 1981 and holds degrees from the University of St. Thomas, the University of Minnesota and St. Paul Seminary.
Prior to coming to Stillwater to serve the churches of St. Mary and St. Michael in 2004, LeVoir served for 11 years as assistant parish pastor at St. Charles Borromeo in Minneapolis, for 12 years as pastor at Holy Trinity in South St. Paul, and for four years as pastor at St. Augustine, also in South St. Paul. A scholar and author, LeVoir penned a series of books on teachings of John Paul II and on the Catholic catechism.
Geographically, the New Ulm diocese forms a strip leading west from the Twin Cites to the South Dakota border. When formally installed on Sept. 15, LeVoir will be one of only 4,800 bishops worldwide, replacing Archbishop John C. Nienstedt, who last year became Archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis.
A ‘present’ leader
Cressy Epperly, principal at St. Croix Catholic School, described LeVoir as a “visibly present” leader, who actively participated in parish life. At the school, she said, he greeting students outside the door each morning, led classes frequently, and listened to others’ concerns.
“Father LeVoir has been consistently present and engaged, not only with students, but for teachers and parents,” she said. “You don’t always find that; it’s a strength.”
The school serves 500 students from the parishes of St. Michael and St. Mary in Stillwater and St. Charles in Bayport, and is attached to the St. Michael’s church complex on Third Street.
Thomas Loome, a St. Michael’s member who teaches adult catechism classes to the parish community, said LeVoir’s appointment came as “a total shock,” especially considering his parish background. He suspects that LeVoir’s scholarly familiarity with Catholic doctrine and history worked in his favor.
“One thing that was important to me is that we actually had a parish priest who not only reads, but writes books,” Loome said. “Of perhaps 450 priests in our archdiocese, only one other is published. So he’s unusually gifted in knowing the Catholic faith.
“Second, he’s a very prayerful man. He represents in my mind kind of an ideal: a fully mature priest who has 10 or 12 years ahead of him before he retires. He’s unusually gentle and sensitive and passionate. He’s not a hard man but one filled with gentleness and compassion. I think he will do great work.”
Reflecting on his years in the parish, LeVoir said he had been most impressed by the community’s willingness to act on its faith.
Whether supporting two local homes for poor and often pregnant mothers, participating actively in catechism classes, or sharing their wealth and gifts in other ways, some might say New Ulm’s latest bishop was describing himself.
“I was real happy being a parish priest, and that’s what I thought I’d remain,” LeVoir said. “This took me by total surprise. I never thought this would happen.”
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