Former Nicholson pastor to become Bishop

BY ROBERT L. BAKER

A former priest at St. Patrick’s Church in Nicholson is about to be elevated to Bishop of a Roman Catholic diocese in Mississippi.

Pope Francis made the announcement earlier this month that Rev. Joseph R. Kopacz, 63, most recently a pastor of the Most Holy Trinity Parish in Mount Pocono, will be ordained and installed on Feb. 6 in Jackson, Miss.

As the 11th bishop of the Diocese of Jackson in Mississippi, he will succeed Bishop Joseph Nunzio Latino, who – at 75 – reached the age of retirement for bishops in the Catholic Church.

“In appointing him as bishop, the Holy Father has not only recognized Father Kopacz’s many gifts and deep faith, but has also honored all of the faithful of the Diocese of Scranton by calling forth one of our own,” Bishop Joseph C. Bambera said in a statement.

Ordained as a priest of the Diocese of Scranton at St. Peter’s Cathedral in 1977, Bishop-elect Kopacz served as an assistant pastor at parishes in Monroe, Bradford, and Luzerne counties until 1986.

He was pastor at St. Patrick’s in Nicholson from 1986 to 1989, and parishioners Barbara Kelly and Joan Roberts distinctly remember his tenure there because the parish was undergoing its 100th anniversary.

He also visited the church just three months ago as a former pastor when the parish celebrated its 125th anniversary.

Joan Roberts said she spoke with him then, but at the time gave no thought to him possibly being elevated in the church, nor did he divulge that he might even be considered.

She said, “when I first heard the news a few days ago that he was to become a bishop, I was dumbfounded, because he hadn’t even served as a monsignor.”
But her disbelief turned to absolute elation as she remembered the kind of person he was.

Kelly called him “the epitome of positive qualities that determine an ‘almost perfect’ parish priest.”

Roberts and Kelly put their heads together and came up with some adjectives which they felt best described him: “dedicated, compassionate, energetic, kind, friendly, benevolent, genuine in relationships with others, solicitous toward the needs of others, forward looking for the needs of parishioners, sympathetic, encouraging and altruistic.”

And they remembered he was especially interested in children and their faith development.

They recalled that while he served St. Patrick’s, he was also academic dean of the St. Pius Seminary in Dalton.

They said he would have morning masses in Nicholson and then he’d be looking out for the needs of young seminarians just a few miles away.
Roberts particularly noted that Father Kopacz was instrumental in the centennial renovation of the church.

An old white frame structure took on a contemporary appearance with the walls pushed out several feet and new pews were installed.

She didn’t recall very many people upset with the building’s new exterior appearance.

“He was so popular when he was here that almost anything he suggested we got because he knew it was right for us,” Roberts said.

“Of course, we are sorry to see him leave the Diocese of Scranton, but he will be a great bishop, and I thank God that his talents have been recognized.”

He will inherit a diocese that is the largest, by land area, east of the Mississippi River, but one of the smallest in terms of adherents, with 48,000 Catholics, the Associated Press reported. It covers the state’s 65 northernmost counties and includes to 75 parishes and 24 missions.