Pope Benedict XVI has announced the appointment of Reverend Monsignor James D. Conley of the Diocese of Wichita as auxiliary bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Denver.

Bishop-elect Conley is currently pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Wichita; in Denver, he will assist the Most Reverend Charles J. Chaput.

"I am both honored and humbled to be named auxiliary bishop of Denver; I've heard that the Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Denver is both young and dynamic, and is experiencing rapid growth," said Bishop-elect Conley. "I look forward to assisting Archbishop Chaput in his pastoral ministry of serving the good people of northern Colorado.

"I love my parish of Blessed Sacrament in Wichita. I will miss the people of the parish, my brother priests and the people of the Diocese of Wichita. A priest, however, has to be ready and willing to serve when and where he is called, trusting that the Holy Spirit will give him the strength and courage to accept the will of God with joy and peace. I ask the people of the Wichita Diocese for prayers as I make this transition."

Bishop-elect Conley converted to Catholicism while a student at the University of Kansas in 1975. He graduated from the University in 1977 with a bachelor's degree in English Literature.

He entered the seminary in 1980. He received his philosophical formation at Saint Pius X Seminary in Kentucky, and his theological formation at Mount Saint Mary's Seminary in Maryland, where he earned a master's degree in Divinity.

He served as a transitional deacon at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Wichita in 1984, and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Wichita in 1985. Since his ordination, Bishop-elect Conley has served as Associate Pastor at Saint Patrick's Parish in Wichita and Diocesan Director of the Respect Life Office (1987-1989).

In 1989 he was sent to Rome where he earned a Licentiate in Moral Theology (STL) from the University Alphonsianum. He returned to Wichita in 1991 and was appointed Pastor of Saint Paul's Parish/Newman Center on the Campus of Wichita State University, and reappointed Diocesan Director of the Respect Life Office.

In 1996 Bishop-elect Conley was called to Rome to serve as an Official in the Vatican Congregation for Bishops. He also served as Chaplain to the University of Dallas Rome Campus (1997-2003) and Adjunct Instructor of Theology for Christendom College - Rome Campus (2004-2006).

On February 9, 2001, he was named "Chaplain to His Holiness" with the title of Monsignor by Pope John Paul II.

After 10 year's of service to the Holy See, Bishop-elect Conley was called back to the Wichita diocese and named Pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish in August 2006.

The Catholic Diocese of Wichita consists of 91 parishes in 25 counties in the southeast region of the state. There are about 120,000 Catholics in the diocese.