“Technology makes it possible to deliver this message to you directly, and we hope you will share this joy with thousands around the diocese who are waiting now for Pope Benedict’s appointment,” Msgr. Carl Kemme, diocesan administration, said. “May God bless the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois with a faithful and loving shepherd.”

To receive the text message, go to www.dio.org/text and complete the sign-up form. In addition, subscribers to the on-line version of Catholic Times will receive an e-mail news alert about the appointment. To switch to an on-line subscription of CT, go to ct.dio.org/gogreen.

Traditionally, the Vatican Press Office makes announcements of episcopal appointments at noon Rome time (5 a.m. Illinois time). The information is simultaneously released from the office of Archbishop Pietro Sambi, the apostolic nuncio to the United States, based in Washington, D.C.

Mere minutes after the announcement is made public, the text will be sent with the new bishop’s name to those who have registered. The same announcement will be posted on the diocesan Web site and Facebook account (www.facebook.com/diospringfield). On-line subscribers to Catholic Times will be notified by e-mail.

“With the dedication and renewal of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception bringing us closer as a diocese, we want all Catholics to share in this important announcement,” said Michael Hoerner, the diocesan Webmaster, who has coordinated the effort.

“Seeing the success the Archdiocese of St. Louis had last year in breaking the news of its new archbishop, we felt this would be a wonderful way of using today’s technology to immediately inform the 150,000 Catholics of the diocese who their new shepherd will be,” Hoerner said.

The plan to send a text message of the appointment was announced in a Catholic Times on-line exclusive Jan. 7.  By Monday, Jan. 11, Hoerner said, more than 300 people had signed up for the free service.

The diocese has been without a bishop since June 3, 2009, when Pope Benedict appointed then-Bishop George J. Lucas Archbishop of Omaha. Msgr. Kemme has been serving as diocesan administrator.