Father Michael J. Linnebur has assumed the duties of chaplain and director of Campus Ministry at Newman University, effective June 20, 2011. Fr. Linnebur’s appointment to Newman is part of a round of new priest assignments made by the Most Rev. Michael O. Jackels, Bishop of the Diocese of Wichita.
Fr. Linnebur replaces Father Michael Simone, who has served as Newman chaplain and director of Campus Ministry since June 2010. Fr. Simone has returned full-time to his duties as director of vocations for the Diocese of Wichita.
“We are very pleased to welcome Fr. Linnebur to Newman University,” said Newman President Noreen M. Carrocci, Ph.D. “I believe he will be a terrific addition to our Campus Ministry Office and to the Theology faculty. We will miss Fr. Simone, and wish him all the best as he continues his work as vocations director. We have greatly enjoyed and appreciated the fine work he provided this past year at Newman, and we know he’ll continue to visit campus to recruit seminarians.”
“I’m looking forward to being a part of the Newman University community,” Fr. Linnebur said. “I thoroughly enjoyed my time in college, and now I’m blessed to be able to work with students, during their own college experience.”
Fr. Linnebur grew up in Colwich, Kan. Both his uncle (now deceased) and great-uncle were ordained and have served as priests for the Diocese of Wichita. He graduated from Kansas State University with a dual degree in accounting and finance before entering seminary in 2002. His studies took him to Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, and Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, in St. Louis, Mo. Fr. Linnebur was ordained on May 24, 2008, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Wichita, and has served as associate pastor at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Wichita since June 2008.
In addition to his duties as chaplain and director of Campus Ministry, Fr. Linnebur will teach Theology classes at Newman, beginning in the fall 2011 semester.
