Father Linebach named vicar general

By Marnie McAllister, Record Editor

Father Martin A. Linebach, 61, who serves as pastor of St. James Church in Elizabethtown, Ky., has been appointed vicar general of the Archdiocese of Louisville, effective Feb. 1. He will continue his pastoral duties at St. James.

He succeeds Bishop-elect J. Mark Spalding, a priest of the Archdiocese of Louisville who was named Bishop of Nashville late last year.

In an announcement about the appointment, Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz said, “I look forward to working with Father Martin, who has great qualifications to serve in this role. He has benefitted from a variety of pastoral experiences, pursued advanced education in management and administration as well as liturgical studies and demonstrates a deep love of Christ and His Church.”

Archbishop Kurtz also noted that he has been well-served by three vicars general the since becoming archbishop in 2007. In addition to the bishop-elect, Father B.J. Breen and a former priest of the archdiocese, Archbishop Charles C. Thompson of Indianapolis, served in that role.

“I am deeply grateful to all of them and extend special thanks to Bishop-elect Mark Spalding as he prepares for his new role as Bishop of Nashville,” he said.

A vicar general “serves as a diocesan bishop’s principal deputy, able to administer a diocese in the bishop’s name in the event of an absence or illness of the ordinary,” the announcement explained. “A vicar general assists the bishop in many roles, including conferral of the sacrament of Confirmation, representing the bishop at ceremonial functions and serving as a principal advisor on the Priests’ Council and the College of Consultors, as well as other boards and councils at the bishop’s request.

“A vicar general must be in good standing and at least 30 years of age with advanced training in theology. He must keep the bishop informed of important matters affecting the local church, and he must endeavor to identify with the will and intention of the diocesan bishop in all areas,” the announcement said.

Father Linebach said in an interview Jan. 16 that he was surprised but honored  by the appointment.

“I certainly feel a sense of honor and support for the archbishop, that he would consider me for this role,” he said. “I have a certain peace about it.”

Father Linebach said he sees two primary duties to the archbishop in his new role:

“To support his ministry” and “to promote any particular program or pastoral initiatives of the archbishop.”

Announcing the appointment to his parishioners at St. James last weekend, Father Linebach said the appointment was also an implicit vote of confidence in the people of St. James.

“The archbishop wouldn’t have asked me if he didn’t have confidence in the parish, as well,” he said, adding that St. James is a healthy parish with active, faith-filled parishioners and staff.

Father Linebach, a native of Louisville, was ordained to the priesthood May 30, 1987.  He earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Bellarmine University in 1978 and a master of divinity degree from the Theological College of the Catholic University of America in 1987. He also studied at the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley from 1993-94. He earned a master of science degree in organization development at Loyola University in Chicago in 2002.

He has served as associate pastor of Our Mother of Good Council Church, Holy Trinity Church, the Cathedral of the Assumption and St. Aloysius Church in Pewee Valley, Ky. He served as administrator pro tempore at Mother of Good Council and St. Ignatius Martyr churches.

He has served as pastor of St. Patrick Church, St. Ignatius Church in White Mills, Ky., and St. Ambrose Church in Cecilia, Ky. He has served as pastor of St. James since 2014.

He also served as the director of the archdiocesan Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations from 2006 to 2016. He has served several terms on the Priests’ Council and the College of Consultors.

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