Vatican City, 15 December 2015 (VIS) – The Holy Father has appointed Fr. James Patrick Powers as bishop of Superior (area 40,701, population 464,000, Catholics 77,200, priests 74, permanent deacons 68, religious 81), United States of America. The bishop-elect was born in Baldwin, United States of America in 1953 and was ordained a priest in 1990. He has served in a number of pastoral roles, including parish vicar, parish administrator, parish priest and adjunct judicial vicar. He is currently diocesan administrator of the diocese of Superior and pastor of the St. Joseph Parish in Rice Lake.