YOUNGSTOWN — A priest of the Diocese of Youngstown has been named as the new bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sioux City, Iowa.

The Rev. John Keehner, who was ordained in 1993 and was born in Youngstown, was named the eighth bishop of the Sioux City Diocese by Pope Francis. His appointment takes effect May 1 and was made public Tuesday by Cardinal Christopher Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States.

Bishop-elect Keehner will be ordained and installed at 2 p.m. May 1 at the Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City. Keehner said he is “truly humbled by and grateful for the Holy Father’s decision.”

Bishop David Bonnar of the Diocese of Youngstown said he was overjoyed to welcome Keehner as a brother bishop.

“It is obvious that Pope Francis desires men with a shepherd’s heart to be his episcopal shepherds. Bishop-elect Keehner checks all the boxes in this regard. The Diocese of Sioux City will come to know very quickly his many gifts along with his pastoral, kind and humble zeal,” Bonnar said.

Keehner said he has chosen for his Episcopal motto the words of his patron saint, John the Baptist, which he speaks about Jesus, “He must increase, I must decrease.”

Keehner said that he chose these words fully conscious that if he is to serve effectively, he must choose every single day to let go of himself, to let go of his ego and to allow Christ to manifest himself and to reveal His will to him.

BORN IN YOUNGSTOWN

Keehner was born in Youngstown, the son of the late John and Betty Lou Keehner.

He completed his seminary studies at the Athenaeum of Ohio, Mount St. Mary Seminary, in Cincinnati and was ordained at St. Columba Cathedral on June 12, 1993, by Bishop James W. Malone.

Following ordination, he was appointed parochial vicar at St. Charles Church in Boardman. In 1997, he began graduate studies in canon law at the Angelicum in Rome and returned to the diocese in 1999 as a judge for the Diocesan Tribunal.

Keehner has served as Newman Center chaplain for Youngstown State University, rector of St. Columba Cathedral and as pastor of St. Christine Church in Youngstown, St. Luke Parish in Boardman, St. Paul Parish in North Canton, Holy Spirit Parish in Uniontown and most recently as pastor of Our Lady of Peace Parish in Ashtabula, Assumption Parish in Geneva, Corpus Christi Parish in Conneaut and St. Andrew Bobola in Sheffield.