Diocese plans farewell celebrations for Bishop DiNardo

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
February 26, 2004

As the days in the Diocese of Sioux City draw to a close for Bishop Daniel N. DiNardo, farewell celebrations have been planned.

According to Jim Wharton, director of stewardship for the diocese, three celebrations have been planned in March.

"Obviously we were looking at ways to make this as accessible to as many people as possible across the diocese," he said.

Celebrations are planned for March 9 at Holy Spirit Church in Carroll, March 11 at Sacred Heart Church in Spencer and March 15 at St. Michael Church in Sioux City. Each event will begin with a 30-minute vespers service to be held at 7 p.m. This offers a spiritual component to the evening, which will then be followed by a public reception allowing for social time with the bishop.

"The reception will feature a video tribute to Bishop DiNardo, which George Lindblade is putting together for us," noted Wharton. "It will highlight the achievements of Bishop DiNardo during his tenure as bishop of Sioux City."

These celebrations are open to everyone - parishioners of all parishes of the diocese as well as people of all faiths. Persons may attend at any of these locations.

"We want to extend best wishes to him along with thanking him for all of the good work he has done here," noted Msgr. Michael D. Sernett, chancellor. "We wanted to offer celebrations at three locations so people wouldn't have to travel too far - so they would have an opportunity to visit with Bishop DiNardo and wish him well in his new office as coadjutor bishop of Galveston-Houston."

The chancellor added that it is Bishop DiNardo's wish that in lieu of personal gifts, people make a contribution that will benefit others in the Diocese of Sioux City. The Bishop DiNardo Appreciation Fund - a fund to support the initiatives of the Catholic School Foundation, Catholic Charities and Multi-Cultural Ministries in the Diocese of Sioux City - has been established.

These initiatives mirror those of the Centennial Campaign for Excellence, the successful capital campaign of the diocese conducted under Bishop DiNardo's leadership.

"Catholic education has always been a big part of his governance here. He has shown great concern for the multi-cultural diversity in the diocese - supplying the necessary spiritual leadership for those areas. And of course, Catholic Charities is a vehicle to which we minister to people in the diocese who are in need," said Msgr. Sernett.

Bishop Daniel N. DiNardo said he is pleased that the fund mirrors the initiatives of the recent capital campaign.

"I am glad that any appreciation people would have toward my ministry here would be expressed in helping the people of the diocese whether it be schools, Catholic Charities or work in behalf of our Hispanic and Vietnamese brothers and sisters," said the bishop.

In addition to these farewell celebrations, Bishop DiNardo's last Mass in this diocese will be celebrated at 9 a.m., March 21, at Cathedral of the Epiphany.