Pope Benedict XVI has named Rev. John M. LeVoir, 62, as the fourth bishop of the Diocese of New Ulm,. The announcement was made today in Washington by Msgr. Martin Krebs, charge d'affaires of the Apostolic nunciature to the Holy See.

Bishop-designate LeVoir succeeds Archbishop John C. Nienstedt, third bishop of the Diocese of New Ulm, who was named Coadjutor Archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis on April 24, 2007, by Pope Benedict XVI. Archbishop Nienstedt remained apostolic administrator of the Diocese of New Ulm until Dec. 13, and on May 2, succeeded Archbishop Harry J. Flynn as archbishop of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. Msgr. Douglas L. Grams has served as diocesan administrator since December.

LeVoir received a bachelor of science degree in chemistry in 1968 from the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul; a bachelor of science in business degree in accounting in 1971 from the University of Minnesota, becoming a certified public accountant in 1973; a bachelor of arts degree in history in 1974 from the University of Minnesota; and a master of arts degree in theology in 1981 from the St. Paul Seminary.

Prior to his ordination, he was employed from 1971-1976 as a public accountant for several firms and also as an instructor of accounting at the University of Minnesota.

He was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis on May 30, 1981, by Archbishop John R. Roach at the Cathedral of Saint Paul.

Following ordination, he served as associate pastor of the Church of St. Charles Borromeo in St. Anthony from 1981-1992; pastor of the Church of the Holy Trinity in South St. Paul from 1992-2004; pastor of the Church of St. Augustine in South St. Paul from 2000-2004. Since 2004, he has served as pastor of the Church of St. Michael and the Church of St. Mary in Stillwater.

His publications include: “Covenant of Love: Pope John Paul II on Sexuality, Marriage and the Family”; “Faith for Today: Pope John Paul II’s Catechetical Teachings”; and “Image of God Religion Series” - theological consultant and author.

The Diocese of New Ulm includes 15 counties in southern Minnesota, a total of 9,863 square miles. Meeker County's Catholic congregations are part of the diocese. The diocese's total population is 285,338 with a Catholic population of 68,087.

A date for Bishop-designate John M. LeVoir’s episcopal ordination and installation has not been set.