Joseph Richard Kopacz (born September 16, 1950) is an American prelate of the

Roman Catholic Church The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...

, serving as bishop of the Diocese of Jackson in Mississippi since 2014.

Early life and education

Joseph Kopacz was born in

Dunmore, Pennsylvania Dunmore is a borough in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, United States, adjoining Scranton. It is part of Northeastern Pennsylvania and was settled in 1835 and incorporated in 1862. Extensive anthracite coal, brick, stone, and silk interests had ...

. He is the son of Stanley and Carmella Calomino Kopacz. He is the second of three children with a brother, Robert, and a sister, Mary Ellen Negri. Joseph Kopacz is a graduate of Dunmore Central Catholic High School. He obtained a Bachelor of History degree from the

University of Scranton The University of Scranton is a private Jesuit university in Scranton, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1888 by William O'Hara, the first Bishop of Scranton, as St. Thomas College. In 1938, the college was elevated to university status and took t ...

. He then entered the Seminary of Christ the King in

Buffalo, New York Buffalo is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of New York (behind only New York City) and the seat of Erie County. It is at the eastern end of Lake Erie, at the head of the Niagara River, and is across the Canadian border from Sou ...

, where he obtained a

Master of Theology Master of Theology ( la, Theologiae Magister, abbreviated MTh, ThM, or MTheol) is a post-graduate degree offered by universities, divinity schools, and seminaries. It can serve as a transition degree for entrance into a PhD program or as a sta ...

degree. Kopacz obtained a Masters in Latin from Fordham University. He obtained a Master in Counselling and Psychology and a doctorate in human development from

Marywood University Marywood University is a private Catholic university in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Established in 1915 by the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Marywood currently enrolls more than 2,800 students in a variety of undergraduate, grad ...

Scranton Scranton is a city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Lackawanna County. With a population of 76,328 as of the 2020 U.S. census, Scranton is the largest city in Northeastern Pennsylvania, the Wyoming V ...

Priesthood

Kopacz was ordained a priest for the

Diocese of Scranton The Diocese of Scranton is a Latin Church ecclesiastical jurisdiction or diocese of the Catholic Church. It is a suffragan see of Archdiocese of Philadelphia, established on March 3, 1868. The seat of the bishop is St. Peter's Cathedral in th ...

on May 7, 1977. After his ordination, he was parish priest of Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in

Brodheadsville, Pennsylvania Brodheadsville is a census-designated place (CDP) in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,700 at the 2020 census. The community is served by Pleasant Valley School District. Geography Brodheadsville is located at (4 ...

(1977–1989). He was professor at the Saint Pius X Seminary in Dalton (1980–1990) and pastor of the parish of Saint Michael, Saint James and Saint Stanislaus in

Jessup, Pennsylvania Jessup is a borough in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,532 at the 2020 census. Geography Jessup is located at (41.471131, -75.562171). According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total ar ...

(1989–1995). Kopacz was transferred to the Nativity of Our Lord Parish in Scranton (1995–1998). After this he was appointed director of education at the Seminary Saint Pius X (1998–2002), and pastor of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Parish in Scranton (2002–2006). Kopacz served as

vicar general A vicar general (previously, archdeacon) is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority and possesses the title of local ordinary. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop' ...

and vicar for clergy (February 2005 – August 2009). From 2006 to 2014 he was the pastor of Most Holy Trinity Parish in

Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania Mount Pocono is a borough in Monroe County, Pennsylvania. It is located nearly centered in the southernmost county of five in the northeastern corner that are part of the Pocono Mountains. The borough serves as a local highway nexus, and sees a ...

. In addition, he was a member of the Diocesan Council for Finance and coordinator of Hispanic

apostolate An apostolate is a Christian organization "directed to serving and evangelizing the world", most often associated with the Anglican Communion or the Catholic Church. In more general usage, an apostolate is an association of persons dedicated to the ...

for

Monroe County Monroe County may refer to seventeen counties in the United States, all named for James Monroe: * Monroe County, Alabama *Monroe County, Arkansas * Monroe County, Florida * Monroe County, Georgia *Monroe County, Illinois *Monroe County, Indian ...

Episcopacy

On December 12, 2013

Pope Francis Pope Francis ( la, Franciscus; it, Francesco; es, link=, Francisco; born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 17 December 1936) is the head of the Catholic Church. He has been the bishop of Rome and sovereign of the Vatican City State since 13 March 2013. ...

appointed Kopacz as the eleventh bishop of the Diocese of Jackson. He was consecrated by Archbishop Thomas Rodi on February 6, 2014. Emeritus Bishop Joseph Latino and Bishop

Joseph Bambera Joseph Charles Bambera (born March 21, 1956) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the tenth and current Bishop of Scranton, serving since April 26, 2010. Biography Early life and education Joseph Bambera was born in C ...

were the principal co-consecrators.

References

External links

Roman Catholic Diocese of Jackson Official Site

Episcopal succession