Bishop Nienstedt interviewed by national news wire while in Rome

On the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, (December 9) while in Rome, Bishop Nienstedt was interviewed by a reporter from Zenit, at the North American College, after he concelebrated Mass there. Zenit is a news agency specializing in coverage of the Holy Father, life in the Holy See, and events of interest to the church.

In referring to the Diocese of New Ulm, Bishop Nienstedt told to the reporter that he felt “very privileged to be here (in Rome) at this time, especially this year when we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception.”

Bishop Nienstedt was quick to remember his people back home commenting that “Our people have a deep devotion to the Mother of God . . . I would say at least a third of the churches in my diocese are named after her titles, and so there is that deep sense of closeness that the people continue to have today to Mary, the Mother of God.”

“Universally, the significance of this feast is the fact that God had a plan for Mary, the first of disciples, and therefore God has a plan for us.”

“That plan, as the Holy Father keeps reminding us, is centered in the revelation of Jesus Christ,” he added. “The Pope continually notes that Jesus, who was formed in the womb of Mary, is the center of church history and human history and when we contemplate the face of Jesus, we really contemplate what he has in mind for us.”