Bishop DiNardo named coadjutor bishop for diocese of Galveston-Houston, Texas

Appointment by the Holy See Becomes Effective This March

Jim Wharton, Director of Communications
Diocese of Sioux City, Iowa
712-233-7556
jimw@scdiocese.org

January 16, 2004 - Sioux City, IA: Calling it both surprising and humbling, the Most Reverend Daniel N. DiNardo, Bishop of the Diocese of Sioux City, today was named the Coadjutor Bishop of the Diocese of Galveston - Houston, Texas. The news of the appointment by the Holy See is being announced simultaneously in Sioux City and Houston, where Bishop DiNardo is being introduced to his new diocese this morning.

Bishop DiNardo indicated that he leaves the Diocese of Sioux City with a degree of sadness. "It has been a privilege for me to be the shepherd of the local church for these past six years. This diocese is small in numbers but mighty in faith. I will truly miss the great priests, deacons, religious and faithful of Northwest Iowa who have made me feel at home. I will always keep the wonderful people of the Diocese of Sioux City in my prayers."

Bishop DiNardo will be officially welcomed to the Diocese of Galveston - Houston on March 26, 2004. He will remain in Sioux City until that time and serve as the Administrator of the Diocese of Sioux City. Upon his departure, a panel of diocesan priests who comprise the Board of Consultors will select a priest to serve as the Administrator of the diocese until a new bishop is appointed by the Holy See. There is no definitive timetable as to when that appointment will be made.

The Diocese of Galveston - Houston is very different from the Diocese of Sioux City. Bishop DiNardo's new home diocese has nearly 1.1 million Catholics, ten times the number of Catholics in the Diocese of Sioux City. The Texas diocese also has more than 450 priests and 300 deacons that serve the needs of the 150 parishes, 6 Catholic high schools, 2 Catholic junior high schools and 43 Catholic elementary schools. In Texas, Bishop DiNardo joins Bishop Joseph A. Fiorenza and Auxiliary Bishops Vincent M. Rizzotto and Joe S. Vasquez.

Bishop DiNardo was named coadjutor bishop of the Diocese of Sioux City on August 19, 1997. His Episcopal ordination as Bishop of Sioux City was held on October 7 of that same year. The native of Steubenville, Ohio, came to Sioux City from the Diocese of Pittsburgh where he served for a number of years in various leadership capacities. The 54-year old Bishop DiNardo has been a priest for 26 years.

During his six years in Sioux City, Bishop DiNardo was recognized as one of the region's most respected spiritual leaders. He worked aggressively on a number of issues including a strong focus on vocations, the creation of safe environments for children, his work with local parishes and interaction with the faithful, the strengthening of adult religion education programs and a continued emphasis on the value of Catholic schools.

Special events to recognize the contributions of Bishop DiNardo to the Diocese of Sioux City will be announced later this month.