By Joanna Puddister King
JACKSON – Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz reached a milestone on Sept. 16 as he celebrated his 75th birthday with Mass at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle and a luncheon with chancery staff. The day carried both personal and ecclesial significance: under canon law, bishops are required to submit their resignation at age 75.
In a video message leading up to the day, Bishop Kopacz reflected on the process and what it means for his ministry. “It’s special because it’s my 75th birthday. Canon law requires that I send my letter of resignation into the Apostolic Delegate,” he explained. The letter was submitted to Christophe Cardinal Pierre, the papal nuncio to the United States.
Still, as the bishop reminded the faithful, acceptance of the letter does not come right away. “Every bishop is obligated to do this … but typically the nuncio will write back and say, continue serving in the diocese,” he said. That time of waiting often lasts a year and a half or longer.
“I look at it as being an extended Advent,” Bishop Kopacz said. “A bishop knows not the day nor the hour when he will receive notice of a successor. That allows me the time then to realize – time is important – and there’s much ministry to attend to in collaboration with priests and leadership in the diocese.”
The bishop spoke of gratitude for the years behind him and the ministry still to come. “Although the letter is going in, not much is going to change, practically speaking, except I’m getting older and grateful to God for living a long life up to this point and being able to serve the Lord and be active in ministry.”
At the Mass marking his birthday, Bishop Kopacz reminisced about his consecration as Bishop of Jackson at the “young age of 63 and a half years old,” he quipped. With many other bishops turning 75 or nearing that milestone, he told those gathered, “Now it’s a matter of waiting for the announcement of a successor. But until then, we continue to walk together.”
At the chancery luncheon, Bishop Kopacz lightened the moment with humor. “I have documentation of my baptism certificate … that shows I was baptized on Oct. 1, 1950. That’s not a recent convert. I think I qualify with longevity here,” he said, drawing laughter.
Looking back on his years in Jackson, he said: “It’s been an amazing 11 and a half years as bishop … really such a blessing in many ways. A few rough patches – welcome to life, right? But overall, a blessing.”
He also spoke of the diocese’s breadth and diversity. “Looking at the folks from Natchez and Fayette, and priests from Amory and New Albany … the heart of the Delta … it really is amazing,” he said. “Together we’re serving the Lord and serving the church, and it really doesn’t end. Wake up tomorrow – it continues.”
The bishop’s reflections place him among a growing group of American church leaders at the same juncture. Canon law requires bishops to submit their resignations at 75, but the pope decides when to accept them. Until then, bishops continue in their ministry.
This September, Bishop Kopacz was not alone in marking the milestone. Bishop Francis Malone of Shreveport turned 75 on Sept. 1, and Bishop David Talley of Memphis turned 75 on Sept. 11. Across the United States, dozens of bishops are reaching retirement age, part of a larger generational shift in church leadership.
National data underscores the trend. By the end of 2023, 13 U.S. diocesan bishops were already over 75, the highest number since the 1960s. Over the next five years, more than a third of current diocesan bishops will submit their resignations as they turn 75. Many, like Bishop Kopacz, are expected to remain in their dioceses for a time before successors are appointed.
For the Diocese of Jackson, that means continuity for now. “Although the letter is significant, the work of the ministry continues,” Bishop Kopacz said. “God bless you. Let us go forward confident again in our Lord’s love for us.”
The day’s celebrations reflected both the seriousness of the moment and the joy of community. Parishioners, priests and diocesan staff joined in thanksgiving for Bishop Kopacz’s life and leadership. While change will eventually come, the bishop expressed hope and confidence in God’s providence for the road ahead.
(Watch Bishop Kopacz’s video message on turning 75 and read the full text of his resignation letter at https://bit.ly/BishopKopacz75.)
