Today, Pope Benedict XVI has granted my request, Reverend Ronald M. Gilmore,

to retire and has appointed Reverend John Balthasar Brungardt as the sixth Bishop of Dodge City. Bishop -elect Brungardt is currently Chancellor of the Diocese of Wichita and Pastor of St. Mark Parish, St. Mark , Kansas .

The Ordination and Installation of Bishop Brungardt will take place on Wednesday, February 2, 2011, at 2:00 p.m., in the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Dodge City , Kansas .

We are grateful to Our Holy Father for this appointment. We give thanks to Almighty God for Bishop -Elect Brungradt and his willingness to embrace this new call to serve.