Msgr. Herzog Of Biloxi Appointed Bishop Of Alexandria, LA
WASHINGTON (November 4, 2004) -– Pope John Paul II has named Monsignor Ronald P. Herzog, a priest of the diocese of Biloxi and pastor of Immaculate Conception parish, Laurel, Mississippi, as Bishop of Alexandria, Louisiana.
He succeeds Bishop Sam G. Jacobs, who was appointed Bishop of Houma-Thibodaux in August, 2003. Bishop William B. Friend of Shreveport has been serving as Apostolic Administrator of Alexandria.
Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, made the announcement.
Ronald Herzog was born in Akron, Ohio, on April 22, 1942.
After completing elementary and secondary schools, he studied at St. Joseph Seminary, Louisiana, and at the Pontifical College, Josephinum, Worthington, Ohio. He was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Natchez-Jackson, Mississippi, June 1, 1968.
Following ordination, Msgr. Herzog held several pastoral assignments, served as Director of the diocesan Office of Liturgy from 1980 to 1985, and has been pastor of Immaculate Conception parish, Laurel, since 1988.
In addition to his parochial ministry, Bishop-designate Herzog also served as Military Chaplain of the National Guard where he held the rank of Brigadier General. He recently retired from the military.
The Diocese of Alexandria was established as the Diocese of Natchitoches in 1853. Transferred to Alexandria in 1910, it was redesignated the Diocese of Alexandria-Shreveport in 1977, then split, forming the Diocese of Alexandria and the Diocese of Shreveport, in 1986. It has a Catholic population of about 48,000 in a total population of more than 392,000.