Pope names new bishop for Kentucky diocese

Owensboro, Ky., Dec 15, 2009 / 09:08 am

Fr. William F. Medley of St. Bernadette's Parish in the Archdiocese of Louisville was nominated on Tuesday by the Holy Father to be the new bishop of the Diocese of Owensboro in western Kentucky.  He will succeed Bishop John J. McRaith, who resigned in January of 2009.

According a biography on the Diocese of Owensboro's website, in the previous 27 years of his priesthood, bishop-elect Medley served as parish priest in a number of parishes in the Louisville and Bardstown areas and was also the Diocesan Director of the Office of Clergy Personnel.

Among his other responsibilities in the Louisville Archdiocese, he held positions in the College of Consultors, the Planning Commission of the Archdiocese and the Priests’ Council.  He was also the president of the Bardstown/Nelson County Ministerial Association and served on the Nelson County Human Rights Commission.

With his ordination to the episcopate, Fr. Medley will remain within the Metropolitan See of the Archdiocese of Louisville, which is composed of six dioceses in Tennessee and Kentucky including those of Memphis, Nashville, and Owensboro.

On Dec. 15, the bishop-elect will hold a press conference in which he will respond to his appointment.  This will be televised at 12:00 CST on the Diocese of Owensboro's website.

His episcopal ordination will take place at 2:00 p.m. local time, on February 10, 2010 at the Owensboro Sportscenter.

According to the Diocese of Owensboro, Bishop-elect Medley will lead close to 52,000 Catholics, 79 parishes, 19 schools (including one university) and a hospital.