Thomas Cajetan
On January 20, 1987, Buechlein was appointed the third Bishop of Memphis, Tennessee, by Pope John Paul II. He received his episcopal consecration on the March 2, 1987 from Archbishop Thomas Cajetan Kelly, OP, with Archbishops James Stafford and Edward O'Meara serving as co-consecrators. Buechlein was installed as the Memphis ordinary on the same day.