Bishop Pohlmeier was born July 20, 1971, in Colorado Springs, Colo. He studied at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville (1989-1991) and received a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology in Indiana (1994); and at the Pontifical North American College and received a Bachelor of Sacred Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome (1995-1997). He received a master’s degree in spirituality from the St. Thomas Aquinas Pontifical University (Angelicum) in Rome. He was ordained to the priesthood on July 25, 1998.
Bishop Pohlmeier’s assignments after ordination include associate pastor at Christ the King Parish in Little Rock (1998-2001); pastor at Our Lady of the Lake Parish in Lake Village, St. Mary Church mission in McGehee, and Holy Child of Jesus Parish in Dumas (2001-2005); pastor at Holy Spirit Parish in Hamburg (2004-2005); pastor at Church of St. John the Baptist Parish in Hot Springs (2005-2010); pastor at Our Lady of the Holy Souls Parish in Little Rock (2010-2016). Bishop Pohlmeier’s ministry also included serving at the diocesan level as director of the permanent diaconate formation program (since 2015), director of the diocese’s office of faith formation (since 2016), and director of continuing education of the clergy (since 2019). From 2020 until being named Bishop, he served as pastor at Christ the King Parish in Little Rock, the largest parish in the diocese.
Bishop Pohlmeier served as a member of the Diocese of Little Rock’s presbyteral council (2003-2006, 2011-2014, and 2021-2022); the clergy personnel board (2011-2014, and 2020-2022); college of consultors (2014-2019); and the clergy welfare advisory board (2015-2017, and 2019-2022).
Bishop Pohlmeier was ordained and installed as the 11th Bishop of St. Augustine on Friday, July 22nd, 2022. Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami was the principal consecrator. Bishop Anthony B. Taylor of Little Rock and Bishop Felipe J. Estévez, retiring bishop of St. Augustine, were also co-consecrators.
Bishop-elect Pohlmeier's father, Deacon Tom Pohlmeier of Paris, and his brother, newly ordained Deacon Jason Pohlmeier of Fayetteville, served at the ordination events, which include a vespers service the night before the ordination and welcoming Masses after the ordination.