Cincinnati:
The Holy See announced today that Pope Benedict XVI has appointed the Most Rev. Dennis M. Schnurr, currently bishop of Duluth, Minn., and treasurer of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, to be coadjutor archbishop of Cincinnati.
As coadjutor, he will assist Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk and then succeed him upon Archbishop Pilarczyk’s retirement. Roman Catholic bishops are required to submit their resignation to the pope upon the age of 75, which Archbishop Pilarczyk reaches in August 2009. The pope may accept the resignation immediately or after some time.
“I hope that all the members of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati are as happy as I am about the appointment of Archbishop Dennis Schnurr as coadjutor archbishop of our local church,” said Archbishop Pilarczyk. “I wish Archbishop Schnurr many years of fruitful and joyous service in our midst. I know that the days of all of us will be bright because of his ministry here.”
Archbishop Schnurr, 60, organized the highly successful 1993 World Youth Day which brought the late Pope John Paul II to the United States in 1993. A canon lawyer, he was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Sioux City, Iowa, in 1974 after studies in Rome. He spent three years in parish ministry, three years in graduate studies and five years in diocesan administration before working on the staff of the papal nuncio to the United States from 1985 to 1989.
In 1989, he was hired by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to oversee the Conference’s peace and social justice projects. As general secretary of the USCCB from 1995 until 2001, he oversaw a staff of 350 and a budget of $50 million. He became bishop of Duluth in 2001. Today he remains highly active in the USCCB as its treasurer.
“It is humbling to be called by the Holy Father to serve as the Coadjutor Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati,” he said today. “Relying upon the help of God and the prayers of the People of God, I have accepted the nomination. I am grateful to our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, for the confidence he places in me.”
“I am particularly thankful to the Holy Father for asking me to serve with Archbishop Pilarczyk, whom I have known for nearly twenty years and for whom I have the highest esteem,” Archbishop Schnurr added. “He served as President of the NCCB/USCC when I was Associate General Secretary, and I had the opportunity to work closely with him on a number of Conference projects. He appointed me National Executive Director of World Youth Day 1993, which brought the Holy Father and 500,000 young people for a week-long celebration of the faith in Denver, Colorado. I look forward to once again being able to collaborate closely with and work under the leadership of Archbishop Pilarczyk.”
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati is the 26th largest Catholic diocese in the country, with almost 500,000 Catholics, and has the eighth largest network of Catholic schools in terms of enrollment. The 19-county territory includes 220 parishes and 113 Catholic primary and secondary schools.
DULUTH BISHOP NAMED COADJUTOR ARCHBISHOP OF CINCINNATI
 Archbishop Dennis Schnurr |
As coadjutor, he will assist Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk and then succeed him upon Archbishop Pilarczyk’s retirement. Roman Catholic bishops are required to submit their resignation to the pope upon the age of 75, which Archbishop Pilarczyk reaches in August 2009. The pope may accept the resignation immediately or after some time.
Archbishop Schnurr will continue as the diocesan administrator of the Diocese of Duluth until he takes up residence in Cincinnati. After that, the diocesan consultors, part of the priests’ council, will choose a priest to serve as diocesan administrator until the pope appoints the next Bishop of Duluth.
Read more:
Press release
Archbishop Schnurr's statement to the clergy and faithful of the Diocese of Duluth
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