ERLANGER — Bishop Robert William Muench is leaving the Diocese of Covington to return to Louisiana.

        Saturday's announcement came one week after the completion of an eight-month, $4.7 million renovation of the Tristate's only Roman Catholic basilica.

Muench

        The restoration of the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption is considered Bishop Muench's major accomplishment during his nearly six years in Northern Kentucky.

        William R. Burleigh, 66, of Rabbit Hash, said Bishop Muench also was instrumental in getting a new sanctuary built for the All Saints Parish in Walton.

        “I was truly surprised and deeply humbled by Pope John Paul II's appointment of me to be the fifth Bishop of Baton Rouge,” Bishop Muench, 57, said in a prepared statement.

        “With all candor, I acknowledge it will be difficult for me to leave this diocese. The church of Covington is a spirit-filled, enormously blessed local church.”

        Bishop Muench's departure date and his replacement have not been announced.

        He became the diocese's ninth bishop when he was appointed to the post in March 1996.

        The Diocese of Covington includes nearly 89,000 Catholics in 14 counties, including Boone, Campbell and Kenton.

        Bishop Muench oversees 47 parishes, six missions, three hospitals and Thomas More College.

        The Diocese of Baton Rouge encompasses 71 churches in 12 parishes (as counties are known in Louisiana), with 218,000 members.

        Bishop Muench was born in Louisville and raised in New Orleans, where he served for five years as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of New Orleans.

        “I extend my sincere congratulations to Bishop Muench upon his appointment to Baton Rouge,” said Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk of Cincinnati.

        “He has been a good friend and a good neighbor. I know that he will be a good shepherd to the faithful of Baton Rouge as he has been to the faithful of Covington.”

        The diocese has scheduled a press conference at 11 a.m. Monday at Howard Hall on E. 11th St. in Covington.

Bridging two worlds
Forest Park offers lifestyle, diversity
Speaking up when racism is overt
Connections factor in judge selection
City pays for police lawsuits
Alleged actions often end in big settlements
A towering dilemma
Answers to killing elude family
Churches remember holiday lows
Holiday shopping crimes low, but police advise wariness
Islamic youth group delivers donated goods
Preschool starts kids on English
Tristate A.M. Report
Walter Zimmer Sr., Cincinnati, Navy firefighter, dies
While the work goes on, the emotions linger
BRONSON: Osama's video
HOWARD: Some Good News
PULFER: Can-Do Kids
Mason pool raises admission price
Area targets teen substance abuse
Bill may aid poor women
Covington bishop to go south
Kentucky News Briefs