Austin bishop gets archbishop position

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Austin Bishop Gregory Aymond is heading back to his hometown after Pope Benedict XVI named the 59-year-old as the new archbishop of the New Orleans Archdiocese.

Aymond was born and educated in New Orleans but has served as Austin Bishop since 2001.

He presided over unprecedented growth in the Central Texas diocese, which now numbers 450,000 Catholics attending 125 parishes. He also oversaw the development of St. Dominic Catholic High School and San Juan Diego Catholic High School for disadvantaged youth.

Aymond will begin his new duties at an initiation mass in New Orleans August 20.

Meanwhile, there is no indication when a new bishop will be named for the Austin Diocese.