Joel Matthias Konzen

Bishop Konzen was born November 6, 1950 in Toledo, Ohio and grew up in Oak Harbor, Ohio. He took his first vows as a Marist in 1975. He took perpetual vows in the Society of Mary, and was ordained a deacon in 1978 and priest in 1979.

Bishop Konzen has a bachelor of arts in English from St. Meinrad Seminary in St. Meinrad, Ind., a master of divinity from Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, a master of arts in systematic theology from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and a master of arts in educational administration from The Catholic University of America. On May 19, 1979, Konzen was ordained to the priesthood.

Bishop Joel M. Konzen took his first position at Marist School in Atlanta in 1980, where he remained for nine years in roles as teacher, admissions director, principal and president. While a graduate student at The Catholic University of America, he served as vicar provincial of the former Washington Province of the Society of Mary. From 1992 to 1997, Bishop Konzen was principal and president at St. Michael’s Catholic Academy in Austin, Texas. In 1997, he returned to Washington, D.C., where he was vicar provincial again for two years.

Bishop Konzen returned to Marist School in Atlanta in 1999, where he has since served as principal and had recently been named President. He assisted in the founding of two new Catholic schools in Atlanta, Notre Dame Academy and Cristo Rey Atlanta Jesuit High School. He currently serves on the boards of Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy in Pontiac, Michigan; Notre Dame Academy, Duluth; Cristo Rey Atlanta Jesuit High School, Atlanta; and the Georgia Independent School Association. In 2015, he received the Educational Excellence Award of the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) in honor of his long service to Catholic schools.

In addition to his time at Marist School in Atlanta, Bishop Konzen taught at St. Peter Chanel High School in Bedford, Ohio (1976–1977), served as a deacon at St. Andrew the Apostle Parish in New Orleans (1978–1979) and as a priest at St. Edmond Parish in Lafayette, La. (1979–1980). He was principal/president at St. Michael’s Academy in Austin, Tex., from 1992–1997.

Pope Francis appointed Konzen auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Atlanta on February 5, 2018.[1][2] On April 3, 2018, Konzen was consecrated as a bishop at the Cathedral of Christ the King.

On May 24, 2019, after the installation of Archbishop Wilton Daniel Gregory as the Archbishop of Washington, the college of consultors elected Bishop Konzen as the diocesan administrator of the Archdiocese of Atlanta.

For Bishop Konzen the shield is silver (white) with a blue pile (an "A" shaped device) upon which is displayed the conjoined "A" and "M," known an "the monogram of Mary," in silver (white) that is the emblem of the Society of Mary, known as the Marists, that is the Bishop’s religious community. The pile resembles an inlet of water, such as a bay or harbor, and this pile is charged with a gold (yellow) oak leaf to signify Oak Harbor, Ohio, where Bishop Konzen was born and raised. Above the pile are an open book (gold [yellow] with red edges) and a red cross of The Faith to signify that Bishop Konzen has spent most of his life in education, in a Catholic environment, including his last position, before coming to the fullness of Christ’s Most Holy Priesthood, as a bishop, as president of the Marist School in Atlanta.

For his motto, His Excellency, Bishop Konzen has adopted the Latin phrase "MISERERE GAUDENS," that is taken from the 8th verse of the 12th chapter of Saint Paul’s Letter to the Romans. This passage can be paraphrased as "Be merciful, and with a cheerful heart."

• Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta Official Site