WELCOME HOME: Staff, friends await cardinal's return

Renee Webb, Globe editor
March 20, 2008

Thrilled, grateful and excited are some of the words used to describe the feelings of chancery staff and other faithful of the Diocese of Sioux City for the March 24 Mass to be celebrated by Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo.

Royce Ranniger, diocesan director of operations, looks forward to the cardinal returning to the diocese.

"I think this diocese is truly blessed to have the opportunity to host a return for Cardinal DiNardo," Ranniger said. "He is a true friend of mine and the Diocese. I look forward to sharing a few stories with him. This is a tremendous event for our church."

Jim Wharton, the former director of communications and stewardship for the diocese, expressed gratitude that the new cardinal is taking the time to come to Sioux City.

"He has so much on his plate right now and for him to give us the honor of coming back is a real testament to what he feels about Sioux City and the people of the diocese," said Wharton, who now works as the development director at Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City. "It was obvious he had a great love for this diocese."

At a recent meeting for the National Advisory Committee of the U.S.C.C.B., after they learned Wharton was from Sioux City, the talk of that group turned to Cardinal DiNardo. They were very impressed that he had been a parish priest just about 10 years ago and since was ordained a bishop, then appointed archbishop and now cardinal.

"I told them that people from the Diocese of Sioux City were not in the least bit surprised," said Wharton. "He is one of the most intelligent, most articulate, most holy people I've ever met."

He pointed out that Cardinal DiNardo has become very prominent in the Catholic Church in the United States and "it was exciting to have worked for him and have him as the head of our church here in Sioux City."

Margaret Fuentes, diocesan director of personnel and benefits, said she is thrilled the cardinal is visiting Sioux City so soon after being elevated to cardinal.

"It makes me feel that even though we were only part of his journey through this time in his life, we were an important part for him and I appreciate that very much," she said.

Like the reaction of many others, she mentioned that when news came that Archbishop DiNardo was elevated to cardinal, she was more surprised by how fast it came because she always knew "he was destined for great things. I was selfish enough to think that maybe we would have him in Sioux City for 10 years but obviously that didn't happen and look where he is 10 years from his own ordination here as bishop. It's been quite an incredible journey."

She was always surprised and awed that he had "such a beat" on what was happening in the departments and the lives of the workers. Fuentes believed him to be gifted in his ability to read people, which she found valuable coming from an HR perspective.

Gus Schroeder of Wall Lake came to know the cardinal when they served on the board of trustees for Briar Cliff University in Sioux City.

He was "thrilled to pieces" to learn of the cardinal's elevation.

"After it was announced, the next morning he called to tell me that he became cardinal. I was really thrilled," said Schroeder.

He referred to the cardinal as the best and added that "his attitude and concern for the people is the best of any prelate I know of. He's a great guy. He's one of those guys that you can visit with - you are on the same level. There is no pretense with him. He's a good, common, ordinary man who expresses love."

"I am excited that Cardinal DiNardo was able to find a date to come back to the Diocese of Sioux City, and I look forward to being a part of the Mass that day," said Terri Niedergeses, administrative assistant for the diocesan Tribunal. "He was always so musical that it is a pleasure to sing with and for him at Mass."

She will be in the choir for the March 24 Mass at Cathedral of the Epiphany.

"As a member of the diocesan staff, he was very pleasant to work with, as he was always cheerful and kind, and forever singing something. But my fondest memories of his time here were his homilies, and the Scripture talks that he gave in theology courses I was taking," she said.

Niedergeses' daughter lives in Houston and takes opportunities to attend Masses and events the cardinal is associated with and then relays those moments back to her. In that way, the connection remains.

Kevin Vickery, diocesan superintendent of Catholic schools, said the people of the Diocese of Sioux City are very grateful to have had a bishop like Cardinal DiNardo.

"His caring and pastoral leadership made him come to appreciate the dedication of the committed Catholics of our diocese," he said. "We are blessed to have been able to be guided with his wisdom and strength."

Vickery recalled that Cardinal DiNardo has always valued the importance of Catholic education and the young people of the church.

"This was most recently evident as he met with a group of young pilgrims in Washington DC at the National Right to Life March," said the superintendent. "He was willing to take time to make them understand their importance in the church and our society."

Regina Ratino, a parishioner of the diocese, called it a blessing for the cardinal to return for a visit.

"It is a momentous occasion, indeed," she said. "To think that a current 'Prince of the Church,' who is only one of 17 American cardinals, actually lived and worked among us as our very own shepherd is awesome and bonds us all in a very unique way."

Ratino expressed gratitude that Cardinal DiNardo made the visit possible so that the people of the diocese can share in his joy.

"His holiness, wisdom and deep love of the church will be wonderful assets to the College of Cardinals as he assists the Holy Father and carries out all his duties," she said.

The Ratino family attended his Mass of Welcome when he was installed as the coadjutor bishop of the Diocese of Galveston-Houston. She noted that they will always treasure the photo that was taken of their son receiving Holy Communion from the cardinal.

Eleanore Metz described the cardinal as a wonderful man who was always kind and thoughtful and said he was always so good to her and her husband Bill, who is now deceased.

"I can remember when he first came to Sioux City. Bill was on the chancery board. Bill met him and came home and said we won't have him with us very long, he is being prepared for more important things," noted Metz, who added that when her husband died, Bishop DiNardo had celebrated a memorial Mass for him at the Carmelite Monastery.

Since his departure to Texas, she noted that he has kept in contact with her through cards.

"He says in his notes that he is very busy now," noted Metz, who is a member of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Sioux City.

While the Mass on March 24 is invitation-only, the public is welcome to attend a reception that will begin at about 5 p.m. that day at Marina Inn in South Sioux City, Neb.