John Joseph Leibrecht

Leibrecht was born on August 8, 1930, in Overland, Missouri, to John and Ellen (née Begley) Leibrecht.[1] His parents were of German and Irish descent; one brother became a priest. John attended the St. Louis Archdiocesan Latin School, excelling at basketball.[2] He then studied at St. Louis Preparatory Seminary and Kenrick Seminary.[3]

Leibrecht was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of St. Louis by Archbishop Joseph Ritter on March 17, 1956.[1] After his ordination, Leibrecht served as associate pastor at St. Louis Cathedral Parish. He furthered his studies at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where he earned a Doctor of Education degree in 1961. [3]Leibrecht taught and served as principal at Rosati-Kain High School in St. Louis for 11 years, then served for nine years as superintendent of education for the Catholic schools. In 1981, he was appointed as pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Florissant, Missouri.[2][3]

On October 20, 1984, Leibrecht was appointed the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau by Pope John Paul II.[1] Leibrecht received his episcopal consecration on December 12, 1984, from Archbishop John May, with Archbishop Bernard Law and Bishop Glennon Flavin serving as co-consecrators.[1][3]

In addition to his duties as diocesan bishop, Leibrecht chaired the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Committee on Education (1986-1989) and the Ex Corde Ecclesiae Committee on U.S. Catholic Colleges and Universities (1991-2000). He was a board member of the Catholic Health Association from 1997 to 2003, and chairman of the board for the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University (CARA).[2]

Upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75, Leibrecht submitted his letter of resignation as bishop of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau to Pope Benedict XVI in August 2005. Pope Benedict accepted his resignation on January 24, 2008.[1]