Bishop Nickless welcomes new cardinal back to diocese

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
March 20, 2008

Bishop R. Walker Nickless is delighted that Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo is returning to the diocese.

"It is a great opportunity to thank him for the ministry that he has given to us in the past and to assure him of our support, our prayer and our confidence in the tasks that lay ahead of him, both in Galveston-Houston and for the universal church," said the bishop. "What an opportunity for us to express gratitude and to do that in the context of a Mass."

He added that Mass is a way to give thanks for blessings.

"Cardinal DiNardo has touched all of us. We want to thank God for his presence among us - friendship, leadership, talent," said the bishop.

Cardinal DiNardo will be in Sioux City March 24 for an invitation-only Mass and public reception.

"A cardinal is dressed in red as a sign of blood and specifically a reminder of the blood of the martyrs," said Bishop Nickless. "A cardinal, probably more than anyone else, is called to shed his blood for the faith. He is taking on a huge responsibility as a cardinal to lay down his life for the faith and be a defender of that faith. What a great gift that is to the church that he is willing to do this."

Having a former bishop of the diocese become a cardinal means different things to different people, the current bishop pointed out.

"For the priests, it is a great affirmation of the leadership that Cardinal DiNardo gave to them while he was here," said Bishop Nickless. "They got to know him very well. There is always a father, son, brother relationship between a bishop and his priests. It is like someone in the family that is doing well and their superior, their bishop, their shepherd has talents that have been recognized by the Holy Father."

Some parishioners in the diocese have received a sacrament - baptism, confirmation, ordination - from Cardinal DiNardo or know him personally.

"They look on that as a fond connection to the Holy Father and the Church of Rome," said Bishop Nickless. "For everyone in the diocese, it (the elevation of Cardinal DiNardo) means that we are very proud of a man who spent so much time with us and whose talents have now been recognized in a wonderful, worldwide way in the Roman Catholic Church."

Those the bishop has talked to who know Cardinal DiNardo are "extremely happy" and proud of him.

"I get the sense that everyone is excited about the honor that he has been given," said Bishop Nickless.

Not only is this a time for the diocese to thank Cardinal DiNardo, but it is a chance for him to thank all those who had a part in shaping him as a bishop and a shepherd.

"Coming as a parish priest from Pittsburgh to become the bishop of a diocese is not an easy thing," said Bishop Nickless. "The people of Sioux City have made it easy for me and I'm sure they did for him."

The bishop extended a thank you to all those in the diocese who have spent time and energy planning and preparing for the events to take place while Cardinal DiNardo is in Siouxland.

"I am appreciative of the media who want to promote this as a noteworthy and a newsworthy thing for us," said the bishop.