News Release #336

Released July 23, 2001

New Ulm – Two full days of ceremonies and festivities will welcome Bishop John C. Nienstedt as the third Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of New Ulm. Bishop Nienstedt will be installed as Bishop of the Diocese of New Ulm on Monday, August 6, 2001, 2:00 p.m. at the Church of St. Mary, Sleepy Eye, MN. A Celebration of Solemn Vespers will be held Sunday, August 5, 2001, 7:30 p.m. at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, New Ulm. In addition to the formal installation ceremonies, a Community Open House, open to all New Ulm area residents, will be held Sunday, August, 5 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Turner Hall.

The new bishop will be welcomed to Turner Hall by The New Ulm Battery with a three gun salute from the lawn of the Brown County Courthouse, along with traditional festive music from the Franta Band. Proclaiming August 5, "Bishop Nienstedt Day", the Mayor of New Ulm, Mr. Arnold Koelpin will be among community leaders and representatives of New Ulm organizations who will welcome the new bishop with brief presentations that tell of the life and spirit of the local area. Included in the presentations are: CANU, United Way, New Ulm Area Youth Council, the Human Rights Commission, Ministerial Association, and the New Ulm Chamber of Commerce. The program will be led by Master of Ceremonies, Bill O'Connor, with performances by The Concord Singers and Heritagefest Narren, and the Johnny Helget Band. A reception featuring New Ulm produced foods will follow the program.

Pope John Paul II has officially named the Most Reverend John Clayton Nienstedt, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Detroit, as the third Bishop of the Diocese of New Ulm. The formal announcement was made Tuesday, June 12, 2001, by the Vatican.