Diocese of Covington at 402 E. 21st Street, Covington, KY 41014 US - Most Rev. Robert William Muench, D.D.

Robert William Muench was born on December 28, 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky. The Muench family moved to New Orleans, Louisiana when Robert was a small child.

Following a call to a vocation, Robert Muench attended St. Joseph Seminary in St. Benedict, Louisiana and Notre Dame Seminary, New Orleans. At Notre Dame Seminary, he earned a Bachelors Degree in Philosophy in 1964. The future bishop earned a Masters Degree in Education (Guidance and Counseling) from the Theological College of the Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. in 1968.

Father Muench was ordained to the priesthood on May 18, 1968 by Archbishop Philip Hannan of New Orleans. Among his early assignments as a priest of the archdiocese included: teacher, counselor, and eventually Rector of St. John Vianney Preparatory School in New Orleans; associate pastor of several New Orleans area parishes; and Co-Pastor of St. Matthias Parish, New Orleans. In 1976, Father Muench was appointed Vicar for Formation of the archdiocese, and in 1981, Vocation Director.

In 1982, Father Muench established and became the first Director of the Pope John XXIII House for Vocational Discernment. In the following year he was named assistant to Archbishop Hannan. Pope John Paul II elevated Father Muench to the rank of Monsignor in 1985, which was followed by his appointment as Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia for the Archdiocese of New Orleans in 1989.

On May 8, 1990, Msgr. Muench was appointed an Auxiliary Bishop of New Orleans. He was installed on June 29, 1990, as Auxiliary Bishop and to the Titular See of Mactaris.

Bishop Muench was appointed the ninth Bishop of Covington on January 5, 1996 and was installed on March 19, 1996 at the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption in Covington.

On December 15, 2001 it was announced that Pope John Paul II had appointed him fifth Bishop of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He was installed on March 14, 2002.