Bishop Louis F. Kihneman, III was ordained to the priesthood on November 18, 1977 at the Corpus Christi Cathedral by Bishop Thomas J. Drury. He became a Monsignor in March 1990 by Pope Saint John Paul II. Bishop Kihneman served the Diocese of Corpus Christi as Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia while also serving St. Philip the Apostle Parish as Pastor.
Bishop Kihneman was born in Lafayette, Louisiana on February 17, 1952 and baptized at Our Lady of Wisdom Parish. He received First Holy Communion at St. Andrew’s Parish in New Orleans in 1958 and was confirmed at SS Cyril and Methodius Parish in Corpus Christi, Texas in 1963. On March 26, 1977 he was ordained to the transitional diaconate and on November 18th of that same year was ordained to the priesthood.
His first assignment in 1977 as Parochial Vicar to San Isidro Labrador Parish in Arteaga, Mexico was followed by Parochial Vicar assignments to St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Robstown, Texas (1978-1980), Christ the King Parish, Corpus Christi, Texas (1980-1981), and SS Cyril and Methodius Parish, Corpus Christi, Texas (1981-1983). Bishop Kihneman’s assignments as Pastor began at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Alice, Texas and St. Peter Mission, Ben Bolt, Texas (1983-1986), then Sacred Heart Parish, Rockport, Texas (1993-2011). Bishop Kihneman was in residence at Corpus Christi Cathedral, Corpus Christi, Texas (2011-2012) and SS Cyril and Methodius Parish, Corpus Christi, Texas (2013-2014), which was followed by his assignment as Pastor of St. Philip the Apostle Parish, Corpus Christi, Texas (2014 to present).
Bishop Kihneman served the following diocesan offices: Diocesan Director of Religious Education (1978-1983), Director of Vocations (1986-1993), Director of Seminarians (1986-1993), Director of Ministry to Priests (1986-1993), Director of St. John Vianney House of Studies and Christian Leadership Vocations Program (1986-1993), Associate Vicar for Clergy (1988-1995), Tribunal Advocate (1983-1987), Chancellor (2013-2014), and Vicar General (2010-February 1, 2017).
Over the years, Bishop Kihneman served on many diocesan boards. He was a member of the Priest Personnel Board, Presbyteral Council, the Diocesan Finance Council, Diocesan Deposit and Loan Board, the Priest Pension Plan Board, and was Chair of the Perpetual Benefit Endowment Fund of the Diocese.
Bishop Kihneman is the son of Louis Kihneman, Jr. and Bernadine Kihneman (both deceased). They were natives of Morgan City, Louisiana and raised Bishop Kihneman along with his brothers, Kenneth (Donna) and David (Hilda), on the Gulf Coast from Clearwater, Florida to Corpus Christi, Texas with Pecos, Texas and Calgary, Alberta, Canada in between. Bishop Kihneman’s family includes a nephew, several nieces, great-nieces, and great-nephews.
Bishop Kihneman attended Corpus Christi Minor Seminary from 1966-1972 during which time he graduated from high school in 1970 and also attended Del Mar College from 1970-1972. He then attended St. Mary’s Seminary in Houston, Texas and the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas from 1972-1977. He received his Liberal Arts degree in 1974 Summa Cum Laude. He completed a Master of Religious Education degree in 1976 and a Master of the Arts in Theology degree in 1977. He has taught Scripture and Liturgy in the Diocesan Pastoral Institute and St. Paul School of Catechesis of the Diocese of Corpus Christi. He has also taught Homiletics in the Permanent Diaconate program of the Diocese of Corpus Christi. Bishop Kihneman is the 2011 recipient of the NCEA Distinguished Pastor Award in recognition of his outstanding support for Catholic Education.
Bishop Kihneman was ordained and installed as the Bishop of Biloxi on April 28, 2017 at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Cathedral, Biloxi.