For exactly five years now, venerable brother, we have observed from afar and indeed with great joy your fruitful and efficacious episcopal ministry among your native flock of Detroit and, accordingly, we have held in very high esteem those virtues and praiseworthy works, and especially qualities of priestly character, which you have splendidly manifested. Given the fact that at this time we must make provision for the needs of the Catholic community of New Ulm, owing to the resignation of its previous bishop, the venerable brother Raymond Lucker, our thoughts immediately turned to you, desiring that your solid practical knowledge as well as great pastoral and human experience be directed towards the genuine spiritual advantage and good of the aforementioned See.

Wherefore, by the fullness of our apostolic authority, we release you from all bonds towards the Archdiocese of Detroit and the Titular See of Alton, and with great confidence we appoint you Bishop of the Church in New Ulm, granting to you certainly all the faculties and powers, rights and privileges, adding indeed also the individual duties and obligations, which the Sacred Canons join to the office of the episcopal ordinary. Among other things, you will see to it that in the most suitable way possible the beloved clergy and faithful of said diocese will be duly informed about this our will for you and this lawful appointment of you as their spiritual teacher for years to come. And we take this opportunity to exhort these very dear sons and daughters in the Lord to receive you ever so kindly as their new shepherd and likewise to follow ever so eagerly your just instructions to their greater spiritual benefit.

Finally, Venerable Brother, diligently take care that the manner in which you so laudably assisted us here in the Secretariat of State, you also from the outset serve the wonderful people of New Ulm: lovingly, totally and effectively for Christ the Lord.

Given at Rome, at St. Peter's, on the twelfth day of the month of June, the anniversary of your first episcopal appointment, in the year two thousand one, the twenty-third of our pontificate.