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Diocese of JacksonBishop
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Bishop Joseph Richard Kopacz

Bishop of Jackson

Coat of arms
Coat of arms
Coat of arms of the U.S. bishop Joseph Richard Kopacz, Bishop of Jackson. Blazon: Arms impaled. Dexter: Or, a cross potent Gules; a base bary wavy of four Azure and Argent. Sinister: Tierced per graft, Gules, Argent and Azure; to chief dexter, upon an open volume of the second, edged Or, a broadsword, tip to base of the last; to chief sinister a rose of the first, barbed and seeded Proper; in base, upon a sunburst of the fourth a Chi-Rho of the first. Motto: FIAT LUX. Reference: jacksondiocese.
Born
Sep 16, 1950 Dunmore, Lackawanna County, United States
Nationality
United States
Ordained priest
May 7, 1977 Scranton, United States
Ordained bishop
Feb 6, 2014 Jackson, United States
Appointed
Feb 6, 2014
Principal consecrator
Thomas John Rodi
Co-consecrators
Joseph Nunzio Latino Joseph Charles Bambera
Education
Fordham University
Motto
FIAT LUX

Joseph R. Kopacz was born on September 16, 1950, in Dunmore, Pennsylvania, within the Diocese of Scranton. After attending primary school in his hometown, he earned a Bachelor’s degree in History from the University of Scranton. He entered the seminary and pursued his ecclesiastical studies at Christ the King Seminary in Buffalo, New York. Subsequently, he obtained a Master’s degree in Latin from Fordham University in New York, as well as a Master’s degree in Counseling and Psychology and a Doctorate in Human Development from Marywood University in Scranton. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Scranton on May 7, 1977. Following his ordination, he held the following positions: Parochial Vicar at Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in Brodheadsville and Epiphany Parish in Sayre, and Parish Administrator at Saint Patrick Parish in Nicholson (1977–1989); faculty member at Saint Pius X Seminary in Dalton (1980–1990); Pastor of Saint Michael, Saint James, and Saint Stanislaus parishes in Jessup (1989–1995); Pastor of Nativity of Our Lord Parish in Scranton (1995–1998); Director of Formation at Saint Pius X Seminary (1998–2002); Pastor of Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Parish in Scranton (2002–2006); and Vicar General and Vicar for Clergy (2005–2009). Since 2006, he has served as Pastor of Most Holy Trinity Parish in Mount Pocono. Additionally, he is a member of the Diocesan Finance Council and Coordinator of the Hispanic Apostolate for Monroe County. In addition to English, he is proficient in Spanish and Latin.