Pope Benedict XVI Accepts Resignation of Dodge City Bishop Gilmore, Names Kansas Pastor to Succeed Him

WASHINGTON (December 15, 2010)—Pope Benedict XVI has accepted the resignation of Bishop Ronald Gilmore, 68, from the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Dodge City, Kansas, and named Father John Brungardt, 52, a priest of the Diocese of Wichita, Kansas, to succeed him.

The resignation and appointment were publicized in Washington, December 15, by Archbishop Pietro Sambi, apostolic nuncio to the United States.

John B. Brungardt was born July 10, 1958 in Salina, Kansas. He holds a Ph.D. in Science Education from Kansas State University, and a Master of Science degree in Physics with teacher certification from Iowa State University. From 1993-1998 he studied for the priesthood at the Pontifical College Josephinum Seminary in Columbus, Ohio.

Bishop-elect Brungardt was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Wichita May 23, 1998 at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Wichita. Father Brungardt currently serves as chancellor for the Diocese of Wichita and pastor of St. Mark Church in St. Mark, Kansas. He also coordinates the Hispanic apostolate for the diocese. Past assignments include: pastor, Christ the King Church, Wichita, 2009-2010, and administrator of the same parish 2008-2009; administrator, Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Newton, Kansas, 2007-2008; pastor, Sacred Heart Church , Arkansas City, Kansas, 2001-2005; and chaplain and religion teacher at Bishop Carroll High School in Wichita, 1998-2001. In 2005 he was appointed chancellor and moderator of Hispanic Ministry for the diocese. He is fluent in Spanish.

Bishop Ronald Gilmore was ordained a priest June 7, 1969. He was appointed bishop of Dodge City May 12, 1998 and ordained a bishop July 16 of the same year.

The Dodge City Diocese includes 23,000 square miles in the State of Kansas. It has a population of 215,585 people with 44,182, or 20.4 percent, of them Catholic.