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MOST REVEREND JOSEPH E. KURTZ, D.D.
ARCHBISHOP OF LOUISVILLE

On June 12, 2007, Pope Benedict XVI appointed the Most Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D., to serve as the ninth bishop and fourth archbishop of the Archdiocese of Louisville. On October 26, 1999, he was appointed by Pope John Paul II to serve as the second bishop of the Diocese of Knoxville. He was ordained to the episcopacy on December 8, 1999.

Born on August 18, 1946 in Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania, Archbishop Kurtz is the son of the late George and Stella (Zmijewski) Kurtz and the brother of the late Rosemarie Quinn, Patricia Cameli, Theresa Bakos and the late George S. Kurtz. Ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Allentown on March 18, 1972, Archbishop Kurtz served that diocese as a priest for 27 years in the areas of social services, diocesan administration and parish ministry. Active in advocacy work, Archbishop Kurtz, who received the distinguished title of "monsignor" in 1986, served on more than a dozen boards of directors in the Allentown Diocese before coming to East Tennessee. The following is a compilation of his assignments, academic degrees and board memberships.

Education

  • Marywood School of Social Work, Scranton, Pa., 1973 to 1976, master's degree in social work
  • St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Philadelphia, PA, 1968 to 1972, master of divinity degree
  • St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Philadelphia, PA, 1964 to 1968, bachelor of arts degree in philosophy

Employment

  • Pastor, Notre Dame of Bethlehem Parish, Bethlehem, PA, Oct. 8, 1996, to Dec. 8, 1999.
  • Diocesan director of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Allentown, Feb. 17, 1988, to December 31, 1998.
  • Diocesan coordinator for health affairs, Diocese of Allentown, July 1, 1994, to December 31, 1998.
  • Pastor, St. Mary Parish, Catasauqua, PA, June 15, 1988, to Oct. 8, 1996.
  • Executive director of Catholic Social Agency and Family Life Bureau, Diocese of Allentown, Dec. 1, 1984, to June 30, 1994.
  • Executive director of Social Action Bureau, Diocese of Allentown, June 1, 1977, to June 30, 1991.
  • Assistant director of Catholic Social Agency, June 1, 1976, to December 1, 1984.
  • Instructor in marriage and family therapy, Mary Immaculate Seminary, Northampton, PA, 1978 to1982.
  • Instructor, Allentown College of St. Francis DeSales (now DeSales University), Center Valley, PA, summer 1978.
  • Professor/counselor, St. Pius X Seminary, Diocese of Scranton, PA, September 1973 to June 1976.
  • Assistant director of vocations, Diocese of Allentown, 1973 to 1976.
  • Assistant pastor, Ss. Simon & Jude Parish, Bethlehem, PA, 1972 to 1973.
  • Assistant pastor, St. Joseph Parish, Limeport, PA, 1972.
  • Assistant professor, Allentown Central Catholic High School, Allentown, PA, 1972.

Service on Boards

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

  • USCCB: Chair, Bishops’ Committee on Marriage and the Family, 2005 to present
  • USCCB: Bishops' Committee for Pro-Life Committee 2002 to present
  • USCCB: Bishops' Committee on Marriage and the Family 2002 to present
  • USCCB: Bishops' Committee on Priestly Life and Ministry 2003-2005
  • USCCB: Bishops' Committee on Budget and Finance 2006 to present
  • USCCB: Bishops' Administrative Committee 2005-present

North American College Board of Governors, Rome, Italy, member, 2004 – present

  • Committee on Formation 2006 to present

Catholic Relief Services, board member, 2006 - present

Conception Seminary Board of Regents, Conception, MO, member, 2001-present.

Catholic Social Workers National Association, honorary member and Episcopal Advisor, 2007 - present

Leadership Knoxville, member of Class of 2002

Association of Christian Denominational Leaders, Knoxville, TN, member, 2000 to present.

Pennsylvania Catholic Conference, personal representative of the bishop, 1992 to 1998:

  • Social Welfare Conference, moderator, 1983-1991
  • Social Welfare Department, member, 1981 to 1991
  • Community Action Department, member 1977 to 1981.

Catholic Social Agency, Diocese of Allentown, president, board of directors, 1988 to 1999.

Holy Family Manor, Bethlehem, PA, vice president board of directors, 1985 to 1999.

Sacred Heart Hospital, Allentown, PA, member, board of directors, 1988 to 1999.

Sacred Heart Health Care System, Allentown, PA, member, board of directors, 1999.

August 9, 2007