Pope Appoints Oklahoma City Vicar General Bishop Of Salina

WASHINGTON—Pope Benedict XVI named Msgr. Edward Weisenburger, vicar general of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, bishop of Salina, Kansas. Bishop-elect Weisenburger, 51, succeeds Archbishop Paul Stagg Coakley, who was appointed archbishop of Oklahoma City on December 16, 2010.

WASHINGTON—Pope Benedict XVI named Msgr. Edward Weisenburger, vicar general of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, bishop of Salina, Kansas. Bishop-elect Weisenburger, 51, succeeds Archbishop Paul Stagg Coakley, who was appointed archbishop of Oklahoma City on December 16, 2010.

The appointment was publicized in Washington, February 6, by Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, apostolic nuncio to the United States.

Edward John Weisenburger was born December 23, 1960, in Alton, Illinois and attended Edison Institute and Eisenhower High School in Lawton, Oklahoma. He graduated from Conception Seminary College in Missouri, American College Leuven in Belgium, and St. Paul University Seminary in Ottawa, Canada, where he received a licentiate in Canon Law. He was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City on December 19, 1987.

Following ordination, he served as assistant pastor at St. Mary Parish in Ponca City, Oklahoma, and St. Peter Church in Woodward, Oklahoma. From 1990-1996, he served as officialis of the archdiocesan tribunal. From 1995-2002, he served as pastor of Holy Trinity Parish in Okarche, Oklahoma. From 2002-present, he served as rector of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Oklahoma City. He has served as vicar general of the archdiocese since 1996. He also served on the archdiocesan seminary board, the presbyteral council and the college of consultors. In 2009, he was named a prelate of honor to His Holiness with the title of monsignor.

The Diocese of Salina comprises 26,685 square miles in the State of Kansas. It has a total population of 315,983, with 45,103, or 14 percent, of them Catholic.

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Keywords: bishop appointment Bishop-elect Edward Weisenburger, vicar general, Salina, rector, Oklahoma City, Pope Benedict XVI, Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò

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