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WASHINGTON (December 14, 2001) -- Pope John Paul II has named Bishop Robert W. Muench of Covington, Kentucky as Bishop of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Bishop Muench succeeds Most Reverend Alfred C. Hughes who was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of New Orleans last February.
Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, announced the appointment.
Robert William Muench was born in Louisville, December 28, 1942.
He attended Notre Dame Seminary, New Orleans, from 1962 to 1964, and Theological College at the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., from 1964 to 1968. He was ordained a priest of the New Orleans archdiocese on May 18, 1968.
Bishop Muench was faculty member and later rector of St. John Vianney Preparatory School from 1968 to 1976. He was Vicar of Christian Formation in New Orleans from 1977 to 1981 and Director of Vocations there from 1981 to 1983.
He was serving as Vicar General of New Orleans when he was named Titular Bishop of Mactaris and Auxiliary Bishop of New Orleans, May 8, 1990.
Bishop Muench was appointed Bishop of Covington on January 5, 1996.
Established in 1961, the Diocese of Baton Rouge comprises twelve parishes (counties) in the State of Louisiana. It has a Catholic population of approximately 216,000 in a total population of over 831,000.