NEW ULM — On Sunday, Oct. 11, Catholics in the Diocese of New Ulm will have the opportunity to say good-bye to recently retired Bishop John M. LeVoir who served the diocese for 12 years.

Due to the COVID-19 distancing restrictions, the diocese will host a drive-by farewell 1-2 p.m. at the north entry parking lot of the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New Ulm.

Bishop LeVoir will celebrate the 10 a.m. mass at the Cathedral which will be livestreamed on the diocesan website, www.dnu.org/live-stream.

On Aug. 6, the Diocese of New Ulm announced that Pope Francis had accepted LeVoir’s request for early retirement due to health concerns. LeVoir, 74, was appointed bishop of the Diocese of New Ulm on July 14, 2008. A typical retirement age for a bishop is 75. There is no timeline for the appointment of a new bishop. However, the search for a replacement began immediately, a process run primarily by the Vatican. During the interim, Mgsr. Douglas L. Grams is serving as diocesan administrator. As administrator, Monsignor Grams assumes the administrative responsibilities of a diocesan bishop until the pope appoints a new bishop.