Pope Names Omaha Pastor Bishop of Grand Island, Nebraska
WASHINGTON—Pope Francis has appointed Msgr. Joseph G. Hanefeldt, 56, pastor of Christ the King Parish in Omaha, Nebraska, bishop of Grand Island, Nebraska, and accepted the resignation of Bishop William J. Dendinger, 75, from pastoral governance of the diocese.
WASHINGTON—Pope Francis has appointed Msgr. Joseph G. Hanefeldt, 56, pastor of Christ the King Parish in Omaha, Nebraska, bishop of Grand Island, Nebraska, and accepted the resignation of Bishop William J. Dendinger, 75, from pastoral governance of the diocese.
The appointment was publicized in Washington, January 14, by Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, apostolic nuncio to the United States.
Joseph G. Hanefeldt was born April 25, 1958, in Creighton, Nebraska. He attended St. John Vianney College Seminary at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, from 1976-1980, and pursued his theological studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome from 1980-1984. He studied sacramental theology at the University of St. Anselm in Rome from 1983-1984. He was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Omaha on July 14, 1984.
Following ordination, he served as parochial vicar of St. Mary Parish in West Point, Nebraska, 1984-1988, and St. Joan of Arc Parish in Omaha, 1988-1992. From 1992-1995, he served as pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Omaha and as moderator of the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women. He also served as director of the diocesan Pro-Life Office from 1991-2005. He served as pastor of St. Elizabeth Seton Parish in Omaha, 1995-2007.
From 2007-2009, he was spiritual director of the Pontifical North American College in Rome. From 2009-2012, he served as director of the spiritual formation program at the Pontifical North American College. In December 2010, Pope Benedict XVI named him a Chaplain to His Holiness with the title of Monsignor. He has served as pastor of Christ the King Parish in Omaha since 2012.
William J. Dendinger was born in 1939 and ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Omaha in 1965. Pope John Paul II appointed him bishop of Grand Island in 2004.
The Diocese of Grand Island comprises 40,000 square miles in the State of Nebraska and has a total population of 307,587 people, of which 45,744, or 15 percent, are Catholic.
---
Keywords: bishop appointment, Bishop-elect Joseph G. Hanefeldt, Bishop William J. Dendinger, Grand Island, Nebraska, Omaha, Pope Francis, Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, apostolic nuncio to the United States
MEDIA CONTACT
Don Clemmer
O: 202-541-3206
The appointment was publicized in Washington, January 14, by Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, apostolic nuncio to the United States.
Joseph G. Hanefeldt was born April 25, 1958, in Creighton, Nebraska. He attended St. John Vianney College Seminary at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, from 1976-1980, and pursued his theological studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome from 1980-1984. He studied sacramental theology at the University of St. Anselm in Rome from 1983-1984. He was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Omaha on July 14, 1984.
Following ordination, he served as parochial vicar of St. Mary Parish in West Point, Nebraska, 1984-1988, and St. Joan of Arc Parish in Omaha, 1988-1992. From 1992-1995, he served as pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Omaha and as moderator of the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women. He also served as director of the diocesan Pro-Life Office from 1991-2005. He served as pastor of St. Elizabeth Seton Parish in Omaha, 1995-2007.
From 2007-2009, he was spiritual director of the Pontifical North American College in Rome. From 2009-2012, he served as director of the spiritual formation program at the Pontifical North American College. In December 2010, Pope Benedict XVI named him a Chaplain to His Holiness with the title of Monsignor. He has served as pastor of Christ the King Parish in Omaha since 2012.
William J. Dendinger was born in 1939 and ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Omaha in 1965. Pope John Paul II appointed him bishop of Grand Island in 2004.
The Diocese of Grand Island comprises 40,000 square miles in the State of Nebraska and has a total population of 307,587 people, of which 45,744, or 15 percent, are Catholic.
---
Keywords: bishop appointment, Bishop-elect Joseph G. Hanefeldt, Bishop William J. Dendinger, Grand Island, Nebraska, Omaha, Pope Francis, Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, apostolic nuncio to the United States
MEDIA CONTACT
Don Clemmer
O: 202-541-3206
