Bishop Quinn Named to the Winona Diocese

Pope Benedict XVI has named Auxiliary Bishop John Quinn as coadjutor and the eighth bishop of the Diocese of Winona, Minnesota. Bishop Quinn will serve with - and then succeed - Bishop Bernard Harrington, who, upon reaching the age of 75, submitted his request for retirement to the Vatican in September. Bishop Harrington is also from the Archdiocese of Detroit, having served as an auxiliary bishop for four years before he was named Bishop of Winona in the fall of 1998.

Comprised of 20 counties across the southern tier of Minnesota, there are 148,400 Catholics in the Winona diocese. The most recent statistics indicate 79 active priests, 115 parishes, 33 schools, one seminary and one Catholic university. The 12-thousand-plus square mile diocese resides in the Province of St. Paul and Minneapolis, led by Archbishop John Nienstedt, who also served in the Detroit archdiocese as an auxiliary bishop until the summer of 2001.

Cardinal Adam Maida described Bishop Quinn as someone who has always been "helpful and hope-filled" in his approach to his many and varied assignments over the years. In particular, the cardinal noted Bishop Quinn's "…rapport with and support of his brother priests, his commitment to Catholic education and catechetics, his love and care for the poor and marginalized, and his advancement of evangelization."

In praising the pope's selection, the cardinal said, "the Diocese of Winona is indeed fortunate to have Bishop Quinn as their next spiritual leader." He joined with the bishop's many friends in the clergy and in the laity in the archdiocese to wish him "God's blessings and many happy years of ministry as the next Bishop of Winona."

Introduced to his new diocese, Bishop Quinn said he was "humbled by the Holy Father's appointment, and delighted for the opportunity to serve the faithful of Winona." Bishop Quinn commended what he called the "phenomenal job" done by his long-time friend, Bishop Harrington. "It will be a pleasure to serve with him again," Bishop Quinn said.

For his part, Bishop Harrington acknowledged Bishop Quinn's "magnificent pastoral skills," and his "jovial, fun-filled personality."

Born and raised in Detroit, Bishop Quinn, 62, was ordained to the priesthood in 1972. He served as a parish priest and pastor, Director of Education, and a faculty member at Sacred Heart Major Seminary. He was named an auxiliary bishop in 2003.

The installation liturgy at the newly renovated Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Winona is planned for Thursday, December 11. For updated developments and a picture of Bishop Quinn, visit www.AODcommunications.org.