Statement on Fr. Joensen’s appointment as Des Moines bishop

Today, our Holy Father Pope Francis gave voice to God’s will by naming Father William Joensen as the next Bishop of the Diocese of Des Moines; and Father Bill said “yes.”

Father Bill will be ordained bishop in Des Moines on 27 September 2019.

We are sad to lose Father Bill as a member of our presbyterate; he will be missed. Hopefully, the faithful of the Diocese of Des Moines will very soon come to appreciate the gift God is giving them in their new bishop.

And while this loss may not be a cheerfully-given gift on our part (more like a not adamantly-resisted appropriation), we nevertheless hope that God will provide us more of what we are not reluctant to share with others – priests!

Perhaps, too, Father Bill’s generous “yes” to God’s call will inspire young men to consider God’s plan for their own lives, and to seek happiness and fulfillment in the pursuit of living for God and others as a priest in the Archdiocese of Dubuque.

Pray for Father Bill. These are not easy times to be a priest or a bishop. But God supplies what is needed – and then some – to those who acknowledge their poverty, and cry out to Jesus for help.

With kind regards and prayerful best wishes, I am

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Michael O. Jackels

Archbishop of Dubuque