We have a new bishop!

Pope names new bishop for Diocese of Sioux Falls

August 31, 2006 Today at noon in Rome (5 a.m. CDT), the Holy See announced that Pope Benedict XVI has named Madison, Wis., priest Monsignor Paul J. Swain as the eighth bishop of the Diocese of Sioux Falls.

“I am honored and humbled to be named by Pope Benedict who has set forth such an uplifting yet challenging call in his first encyclical, homilies, and meditations to live the vocation of love in its deepest sense,” said Bishop Swain, 62.

He will be introduced to the people of the Diocese of Sioux Falls at a press conference at 10- a.m. today at the Catholic Pastoral Center, 523 N. Duluth Ave.

The Diocese of Sioux Falls has been vacant for twenty months, since Bishop Robert Carlson was announced on December 29, 2004 as the bishop of the Diocese of Saginaw, Michigan.

Bishop Swain will be consecrated and installed as Bishop of Sioux Falls within the next several months, but a specific date has not been determined.

“Today the Church of Sioux Falls rejoices and our hearts are filled with gratitude to God,” said Bishop Samuel Aquila, the bishop of Fargo who has been serving as apostolic administrator for the Sioux Falls diocese. “I am certain that he will provide the care of Jesus Christ for the faithful of Sioux Falls and will follow in the footsteps of the apostles who have gone before him throughout the centuries.”

The Diocese of Sioux Falls is comprised of the counties in South Dakota east of the Missouri River, some 35,000 square miles. There are just fewer than 130,000 Catholics in the Diocese, roughly 20% of the total population. The people are served by about 150 parishes.

“This is a tremendous honor for our Diocese,” said Bishop Robert C. Morlino, bishop of Madison. “The Holy Father has personally chosen Bishop Swain and I couldn’t be happier for him and for the whole church. His appointment brings great honor upon our fine priests and our wonderful, faithful people in the Diocese of Madison. His departure will leave a great void here, both in the chancery and in the downtown parishes, but I am confident that the Holy Spirit will provide for us. I will, in a deeply personal way, miss his close and faithful collaboration as my Vicar General.”