A South Florida priest has found a higher calling -- as bishop to the diocese of Pueblo, Colo.

The Rev. Fernando Isern, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes parish in Southwest Miami-Dade, was named bishop-elect by Pope Benedict XVI, and will be ordained in his new assignment in December.

He is the 11th priest from the Archdiocese of Miami to be named a bishop, and the sixth since 1995, said Archbishop John C. Favalora.

``As pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, he administers one of the largest parishes in the archdiocese, a community quite diverse, a community whose spirituality and service are quite well known and admired,'' Favalora said.

Isern, 51, was born in Havana and ordained a priest in 1993. He has been pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, at 11291 SW 142nd Ave., since 2003. He also oversees Archbishop Coleman Carroll High School and Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School.

Isern graduated from Florida International University in 1982, and has also served as vicar with St. Mark Catholic Church in Southwest Ranches, St. Elizabeth of Hungary in Pompano Beach, and most recently at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Key Biscayne.

``The diocese encompasses Southern Colorado, an area with great natural beauty and diversity,'' he said. ``Its people are rightfully proud of their history and cultural contributions.''

The Diocese of Pueblo includes the entire southern half of Colorado, from the Utah border in the west to the Kansas border in the east. The diocese has nearly 100,000 registered Catholics out of a population of 621,000.

Bishops are selected from a confidential list of three names submitted to the pope for consideration. The three names are taken from a list created by U.S. bishops every three years.

There are 16 cardinals and 424 active and retired U.S. bishops in the United States.

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