Native son, Bishop Dennis Schnurr, to keynote Bishop's Dinner for Catholic Education

June 24, 2004

The Eighth Annual Bishop's Dinner for Catholic Education, an initiative of the Catholic School Foundation of the Diocese of Sioux City, will feature a native son at the Oct. 17 dinner. The Most Reverend Dennis M. Schnurr, Bishop of the Diocese of Duluth, Minn. will return to his home diocese as the featured speaker at the premier event celebrating Catholic schools.

Dr. Gerald and Sheryl McGowan, the chairpersons of the 2004 dinner, say the willingness of Bishop Schnurr to return to the Sioux City Diocese is tremendous news.

"Bishop Schnurr's dedication to the priesthood and his years of service to the Church are wonderful testimonies to the strength of the Catholic schools in our diocese. We are honored to have him back in Sioux City for the Bishop's Dinner and look forward to his message of inspiration," said Dr. McGowan.

Bishop Schnurr was born in Sheldon and raised in Hospers and his mother Eleanor continues to reside in that Sioux County community. The 55-year old bishop was educated in Catholic grade and high schools and earned a bachelors degree at Loras College in Dubuque. He studied for the priesthood at the North American College and Gregorian University, both in Rome. Schnurr was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Sioux City in 1974.

After a number of assignments in the diocese, the priest was sent for graduate studies at the Catholic University of America. He then served the Diocese of Sioux City in numerous roles including vice chancellor, chancellor, finance officer and judge of the Diocesan Tribunal.

In 1985, he left for Washington, D. C. where he served in a number of prominent roles including General Secretary of the United States Catholic Conference and the National Conference of Catholic Bishops. Pope John Paul II named him a monsignor in 1993 on the occasion of World Youth Day, an event for which he served as National Executive Director. He was ordained the eighth Bishop of the Diocese of Duluth on April 2, 2001.

Bishop Schnurr holds a master's degree from Gregorian University and a doctorate in canon law from The Catholic University of America.

Previous guests at the bishop's dinners include Lou Holtz, Tommy Lasorda,

U. S. Ambassador to the Vatican Jim Nicholson and Rocky Bleier.

Tickets for the 8th Annual Bishop's Dinner for Catholic Education are priced at $125 per person and will go on sale in late summer. The dinner will be held at the Sioux City Convention Center in downtown Sioux City. For more information, contact the diocesan office of development at (712) 233-7524.