JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A new bishop has been selected for the Diocese of St. Augustine, which covers 17 counties in Northeast and North Central Florida.
The new bishop is Father Erik Pohlmeier, who has served as a pastor in the Diocese of Little Rock, Arkansas for the past 24 years, according to a release from the diocese.
“I am grateful for every way I have been called to serve the Church and am humbled by this opportunity to serve in the place where Mass was first celebrated in the United States. May God be praised for any good work I am able to do,” Bishop-elect Pohlmeier said in the release.
In February 2021, current Bishop Felipe J. Estévez submitted his retirement letter to Pope Francis and said he would serve until his replacement was found. The mandatory retirement age for bishops is 75 and Bishop Estévez is now 76.
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Bishop Estévez has served the 153,000 Catholics in the Diocese of St. Augustine for the past 11 years.
Bishop-elect Pohlmeier will be installed as the 11th bishop of St. Augustine on Friday, July 22 with Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami presiding at the ordination liturgy. Bishop Anthony B. Taylor of Little Rock and Bishop Estévez will be co-consecrators. Details of the ordination have not been announced.
To learn more about the process of how bishops are selected, click here.
To see the video announcing Bishop-elect Pohlmeier’s appointment, click here.
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