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Cardinal flies north for a day of celebration

By RENEE WEBB and KATIE LEFEBVRE, The Catholic Globe
March 27, 2008

About 1,000 people greeted Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo at the reception held at the Marina Inn following the Mass of Thanksgiving on March 24. Many expressed best wishes and some had questions.

Jennifer and Brad Clay of Sioux City attended the reception at the Marina Inn with their two grade school-age children.

When their daughter Elizabeth, a first-grader at Sacred Heart School in Sioux City, approached the cardinal she asked him why people called him "Your M&Ms." Prepping the children, the Clays had told them to call the cardinal, "Your eminence."

The cardinal laughed and told her his favorite candy was actually Snickers.

"It lightened the mood for the kids," said Jennifer, who added that the cardinal gave them a blessing. The Clays then thanked the cardinal for returning to Sioux City.

A celebration to remember

Msgr. Michael D. Sernett, who served as chancellor and vicar general during the cardinal's time in the diocese, called it a joy to have him back.

"He is such a spiritual man, intelligent man and to have him back in our midst was just delightful. The Easter joy came out in his celebration," said Msgr. Sernett, who was one of four diocesan priests asked to be principle celebrants of the Mass with the visiting bishops. "He just raises you up and makes you feel like you are on the right track."

Jim Wharton, who served as the former director of communications and stewardship for the diocese, called it a spectacular day from beginning to end.

"It was so reaffirming to have Cardinal DiNardo back in the Cathedral and Sioux City," he said. "The trip to Rome was incredible for us but to have him back home in front of all of the people who wanted to be in Rome but couldn't, has been great. They were able to see him in person and offer him best wishes."

He described it as a red-letter day, a day to never forget. Wharton said the diocese was blessed to have him return for a visit.

Wharton and his wife, Bev, presented the offertory gifts to the cardinal at the Mass. He said he was surprised and humbled to be given that honor.

Father Jim Tigges, pastor at St. James Church in Le Mars, said the liturgy was "a beautiful opportunity to say thanks to the Lord for all of his graces and blessings and to honor Cardinal DiNardo."

He said the music and the choir was excellent.

Father John Cain, a retired priest of the diocese, recalled coming out of retirement while Cardinal DiNardo was bishop in the diocese.

"He told me that I could have Sioux Rapids and stay as long as I wanted," said Father Cain.

He thought the return of Cardinal DiNardo was a "glorious day" in the diocese. He said it was marvelous to see the cardinal again.

"We knew when he came in the first place that we wouldn't have him very long," said the priest. "I wasn't surprised when it happened because he is trained in the study of the early fathers of the church. The church is guided by the fathers of the church, the Holy Scriptures and the magisterium of the church - all the bishops. That is what the church is all about and he is very skilled in all three. It makes sense for him to be a cardinal."

A caring leader

Deacon Eldon Sullivan described the Mass as a "once in a lifetime event."

When he was ordained a permanent deacon, Cardinal DiNardo was coadjutor bishop of the diocese at that time and was able to lay hands on him in prayer.

The deacon's wife, Sandy, said, "When he is giving a sermon, he makes you feel like you are in the living room talking to him. He brings in the readings, but he also talks about remembrances."

The Sullivans recalled that just prior to the cardinal's appointment and departure to serve in Galveston-Houston, their granddaughter was having serious health problems. To the surprise of the deacon, when the cardinal came back to Sioux City for the episcopal ordination of Bishop R. Walker Nickless, the former bishop inquired about their granddaughter.

"That was two years later," said Deacon Sullivan. "He remembered that one little detail - don't think that he doesn't have a spot in my heart. "

Sister Joan Stoffel, who was appointed superintendent of schools by the cardinal while he was bishop in Sioux City, said she still thinks of the cardinal as Bishop DiNardo. She remembered many stories about his time in the diocese and working with him at the Chancery office.

One specific story she mentioned was about the cardinal's reaction when she told him that her father had died.

"I went down to tell him and he jumped out of his chair. He greeted me real warmly. That was such a special time," said Sister Joan, who added that the cardinal was present at her father's funeral.

When the former bishop was elevated to cardinal, she thought it was wonderful. She arrived at the Mass early on March 24 and happened to see Cardinal DiNardo before he went into the press conference. She said he greeted her with a hug.

"He is a very special person," said Sister Joan. "I have lots of good memories of him."

Jerry Eaton, executive director at Catholic Charities in Sioux City, welcomed the cardinal back to the diocese and thanked him for everything he did for the agency. During his tenure in the diocese, one of the cardinal's accomplishments was establishing the endowment for Catholic Charities through the Centennial Campaign for Excellence.

Throughout the Mass, Eaton was reminded of the "way he is as a human being. How much he relates to people directly. There was both the beauty and the pageantry and the connection with the people - what he always had, the whole time he was here."

All encompassing

Kerrie Woodley, a parishioner at Sacred Heart in Laurens, and her husband, Rick, were able to attend as a way to celebrate their 24th wedding anniversary. Their pastor, Father Allan Reicks, thought it was fitting since the events were held on March 24.

"The celebration was totally incredible, outstanding. I have never been to anything like that in my entire life," said Kerrie. "Seeing him again was amazing. He is the most personable clergy person. He is just so all encompassing for everyone."

She had been the confirmation teacher in Laurens, and Sacred Heart was one of the first parishes he went to for a confirmation celebration. This was one time that she definitely remembered meeting him.

Father Thomas Hart, pastor at OLGC in Fonda and St. Columbkille in Varina, thought it was great that Cardinal DiNardo took time out of his busy schedule to come back to the diocese.

"This way he is able to meet a lot of the people that he was close to, the priests that he worked with and others he worked with," said the priest. There was a line of people waiting to talk to the cardinal for more than two hours.

He enjoyed working for the cardinal, who appointed him to different boards in the diocese.

"We extend to him congratulations on him being named cardinal and prince of the church," said Father Hart.

Matthew Geerlings, director of music and liturgy at Cathedral, noted he knew what music the cardinal liked so that made it easier to plan music for the liturgy.

"In one sense, it was a regular daily Mass on the octave of Easter," he said. "On the other hand, the procession was quite a bit longer so we had to make sure the music was timed correctly. With Cardinal DiNardo's love for quality music, I certainly wanted to choose a couple of pieces I knew he would appreciate."

Geerlings was hired shortly after the cardinal became bishop in the diocese.

"He was always very kind and supportive of the music program at the cathedral," he said. "We certainly got along very well as far as taste and what was expected."

Following the reception, the cardinal attended a private banquet with clergy and special guests.