Cincinnati, Ohio, Oct 17, 2008 / 09:18 am
This morning the Holy Father appointed Bishop Dennis M. Schnurr of Duluth, Minnesota as coadjutor Archbishop of Cincinnati, Ohio. The prelate will serve alongside current archbishop, Daniel Pilarczyk, and then take over his position when he retires next year.
The archbishop-elect was born in Sheldon, Iowa in 1948. According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), the prelate attended Loras College in Dubuque, earning his Bachelor of Arts. He then studied Theology as part of a Masters program in Rome as he prepared for the priesthood. The archbishop-elect was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Sioux City, Iowa in 1974.
As a priest, Bishop Schnurr served several parishes within his home diocese. He later worked in the Apostolic Nunciature in Washington, D.C. and was elected the General Secretary of the NCCB/USCCB before being consecrated the bishop of the Diocese of Duluth, Minnesota in 2001.
In his new position, Bishop Schnurr, 60, will serve alongside the current Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk, 74. As coadjutor archbishop, Schnurr will take the reigns when Archbishop Pilarczyk retires. He will serve 500,000 Catholics and 501 priests.