The Vatican announced Wednesday that Pope Francis has named Auxiliary Bishop Joseph M. Siegel of Joliet, Illinois, to head the Diocese of Evansville.
He succeeds Archbishop Charles C. Thompson, who was appointed in June to lead the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.
The 54-year old Siegel is the youngest of nine children. He is from Illinois but has ties to our area. He attended St. Meinrad Seminary in Spencer County.
Te Diocese of Joliet, Illinois’ Bishop Daniel Conlon said in a statement that Siegel has shared his “many gifts and talents” as a priest and bishop in Illinois and he’ll “be an effective and loving pastor in Evansville.”
Siegel’s biography on the Diocese of Joliet’s website says he studied at Joliet Junior College before recieving his education at St. Meinrad. He was then sent to the North American College in Rome for his theological studies.
He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Joliet in 1988 and served in a number of parishes before being named an auxiliary bishop for the diocese. He was ordained a bishop in January 2010.
Siegel will be the leader of over 76-thousand catholics here in Southwestern Indiana.
He will be officially installed as the leader of the diocese on December 15th.
