His Excellency, The Most Reverend

William Michael Joensen

Ph.D.
Bishop of Des Moines
ArchdioceseDubuque
DioceseDes Moines
AppointedJuly 18, 2019
InstalledSeptember 27, 2019
PredecessorRichard Pates
Orders
OrdinationJune 24, 1989
by Daniel Kucera
ConsecrationSeptember 27, 2019
by Michael Owen Jackels, R. Walker Nickless, and Thomas Zinkula
Personal details
Born (1960-07-08) July 8, 1960
Waterloo, Iowa, US
MottoExquirite faciem suam
(Seek His face)
Coat of armsWilliam Michael Joensen's coat of arms
Styles of
William Michael Joensen
Reference style
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleBishop

William Michael Joensen (born July 8, 1960) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who has been serving as the bishop of the Diocese of Des Moines since 2019.

Biography

Early life and education

William Joensen was born on July 8, 1960, in Waterloo, Iowa to Alfred W. Joensen and Marilyn E. (née Simington) Joensen. He is the eldest of five children and grew up in Ames, Iowa.[1] Joensen received a Bachelor of Science degree in zoology from Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. He was attending medical school at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa, when he decided instead to study for the priesthood. Joensen's seminary education was at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio.[2][3]

Priesthood

On June 24, 1989, Joensen was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Dubuque by Archbishop Daniel Kucera in the Church of the Nativity in Dubuque.[4]

Joensen spent six years in parish ministry and education before returning to graduate studies. During those years he served as the associate pastor of Sacred Heart Parish and on the faculty of Columbus High School in Waterloo from 1989 to 1992. From 1992 to 1995 he was the associate pastor of the Church of the Resurrection Parish in Dubuque.[5] Joensen earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. in 2001.[6][3]

When Joensen returned to Iowa, he served as a chaplain at Clarke College in Dubuque from 2003 to 2010. At Loras College in Dubuque, Joensen served as chaplain, associate professor of philosophy, and dean of campus spiritual life. At Dubuque's St. Pius X Seminary Joensen was the spiritual director. Joensen also served as a faculty member at the Tertio Millennio Seminar on the Free Society, which focuses on Catholic social teaching, in Krakow, Poland.[6][2]

Bishop of Des Moines

Pope Francis appointed Joensen as the tenth bishop for the Diocese of Des Moines on July 18, 2019. His episcopal ordination took place on September 27, 2019, at St. Francis of Assisi Church in West Des Moines, Iowa.[7] Archbishop Michael Jackels was the consecrator, with Bishop R. Walker Nickless and Bishop Thomas Zinkula as the co-consecrators.[4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Joensen named 10th bishop of the Diocese of Des Moines". The Daily Nonpareil. Council Bluffs, Iowa. August 7, 2019. Retrieved 2019-08-12.
  2. 1 2 Moines, Diocese of Des. "Bishop Joensen". www.dmdiocese.org. Retrieved 2021-12-28.
  3. 1 2 Fleig, Shelby. "Meet the next Des Moines bishop: a philosopher, advocate and self-described 'Iowa guy'". Des Moines Register. Retrieved 2021-12-28.
  4. 1 2 "Bishop William Michael Joensen [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2021-12-28.
  5. ↑ "Pope Francis Accepts Resignation of Bishop Richard Pates, Appoints Rev. William Joensen as Bishop-Elect of Diocese of Des Moines". United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved 2019-07-18.
  6. 1 2 "University spiritual life dean appointed Des Moines bishop". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 2019-08-12.
  7. ↑ Shelby Fleig (September 27, 2019). "Diocese of Des Moines welcomes Bishop William Joensen at ordination". The Des Moines Register. Des Moines. Retrieved 2019-10-02.
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