Robert William Muench

Robert William Muench (born December 28, 1942) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. Muench served as bishop of the Diocese of Baton Rouge in Louisiana from 2002 to 2018. He previously served as bishop of the Diocese of Covington in Kentucky from 1996 to 2002 and as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of New Orleans in Louisiana from 1990 to 1996.

Biography

Early life Robert Muench was born on December 28, 1942, in Louisville, Kentucky, to William Anthony and Mary Kathryn (née Allgeier) Muench; he has three sisters, Jo Ann, Mary Alice, and Marsha. When he was age three, the family moved to New Orleans, Louisiana. Muench attended Jefferson Davis and St. Leo the Great primary schools in New Orleans.

In 1956, Muench entered Saint Joseph Seminary in Saint Benedict, Louisiana. He graduated from the high school and junior college program in 1962. He then attended Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy in 1964. After his ordination, the archdiocese assigned Muench to the faculty of St. John Vianney Preparatory School in New Orleans. He worked there until 1977, serving as religion teacher, liturgy director, guidance counselor, and eventually rector. Muench also assisted at various parishes in New Orleans. In 1976, he was named associate pastor of St. Matthias Parish in New Orleans, later becoming pastor.

Bishop of Covington On January 5, 1996, John Paul II appointed Muench as the ninth bishop of Covington. He was installed on March 19, 1995, at the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption in Covington, Kentucky.

Retirement On June 26, 2018, Pope Francis accepted Muench's letter of resignation as bishop of Baton Rouge after Muench reached the mandatory retirement age of 75.