Papal honors given in the Diocese of New Ulm!

five priests receive papal honors of the title "Monsignor"; conferral celebration to be held in February

New Ulm - Bishop John C. Nienstedt announced in December that Pope Benedict XVI has conferred upon five priests of the Diocese of New Ulm papal honors of the title of "Monsignor", recognizing the priests’ service to the Church.

There are generally three grades of papal honors that bear the title "Monsignor" - the Protonotary Apostolic, the Prelates of Honor to His Holiness, and the Chaplains to His Holiness. Priests who are monsignors of one rank may be elevated from one rank to another at the will of the Pope.

Rev. Douglas L. Grams has been named a Prelate of Honor with the title "Monsignor," and Rev. Francis J. Garvey, Rev. Eugene L. Lozinski, Rev. John A. Richter, and Rev. Robert J. Wyffels have been named Chaplains to His Holiness, also with the title "Monsignor."

The diocesan bishop nominates candidates for the honor and submits the names and biographies to the Holy See. Once the Holy Father confers the honor onto the priest, the Vatican Secretariat of State issues a diploma designating the new title and rank, recognizing the newly-made monsignor's service to the Church. Priests who are given papal honors and thus named monsignors are considered to be members of the papal household and thus are listed in the Annuario Pontificio (the papal yearbook).

Msgr. Douglas L. Grams was born in Mankato, MN. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of New Ulm on June 13, 1987 at the Church of the Holy Rosary, North Mankato, MN, by Bishop Raymond A. Lucker. He currently serves as pastor at the Church of St. Mary in New Ulm along with other duties as Vicar General for the diocese; Episcopal Vicar for regions 1 and 6; and also Director of Priest Personnel and Bishop's Delegate in Matters Pertaining to Sexual Misconduct.

Parish communities he served and offices held as well as additional education include: St. Mary, Sleepy Eye; Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, New Ulm; Advocate for the Diocesan Tribunal; St. John, Searles; graduate studies in Canon Law at the University of St. Paul, Ottawa, Canada; Licentiate and Master's degree in Canon Law; St. Mary, Tracy; St. Paul, Walnut Grove; Associate Judge of the Diocesan Tribunal; Chancellor of the diocese.

Msgr. Eugene L. Lozinski was born in Canby, MN. He was ordained a priest on May 28, 1972 for the Diocese of New Ulm at the Church of St. Leo, St. Leo, MN by Bishop Alphonse J. Schladweiler. He currently serves as pastor of the Church of St. Pius X in Glencoe; is Chancellor of the diocese; Bishop’s Delegate for the Permanent Diaconate; Associate Judge of the Diocesan Tribunal; and Moderator for the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women.

Parish communities he served and offices held as well as additional education include: Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, New Ulm; Auditor or Defender of the Bond for the Diocesan Tribunal; graduate studies in Canon Law, Rome; St. Gregory, Lafayette; St. Dionysius, Tyler and St. Genevieve, Lake Benton; St. Catherine, Redwood Falls; member of the Diocesan College of Consultors; graduate studies in Canon Law at St. Paul's University, Ottawa, Canada; Licentiate and Master's degree in Canon Law; Spanish study at the Cuernavaca Language School, Mexico; Spanish study at Cirimex, Guadalajara, Mexico.

Msgr. Francis J. Garvey was born in Eden Valley, MN. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of New Ulm on February 22, 1959 at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, New Ulm, MN by Bishop Alponse J. Schladweiler. He currently serves as pastor of the Church of Our Lady in Manannah .

Parish communities he served and offices held include: St. Anastasia, Hutchinson; St. Adalbert, Silver Lake; Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, New Ulm; St. Patrick, Kandiyohi; Chaplain at the Willmar Regional Treatment Center, a position he held for 39 years; St. Thomas More, Lake Lillian; half-time Director of Priest Personnel and as Bishop's Delegate in Matters Pertaining to Sexual Misconduct; Church of St. Anthony, Watkins.

Msgr. John A. Richter was born in Bird Island, MN. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of New Ulm on February 22, 1964 at the Church of St. Mary, Bird Island, MN by Bishop Alphonse J. Schladweiler. He currently serves as rector of the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, New Ulm and parochial administrator of the Church of St. John, Searles.

Parish communities he served include: St. Anastasia, Hutchinson; St. Michael, Madison; St. Peter, Canby; St. Mary, Sleepy Eye; St. Anne, Wabasso; St. Mary, Seaforth;

Our Lady, Lucan; St. Mathias, Wanda.

Msgr. Robert J. Wyffels was born in Cottonwood, MN. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of New Ulm on February 21, 1960 at the Church of St. Mary, Sleepy Eye, MN by Bishop Alphonse J. Schladweiler. He currently serves as pastor of the Church of St. Michael in Morgan and sacramental minister at the Church of St. Joseph, Clements and co-sacramental minister of the Church of St. Joseph, Lamberton

Parish communities he served and offices held include: Holy Trinity, Winsted; Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, New Ulm; Director of Cathedral High School, New Ulm; St. Paul, Comfrey; St. Mary, Sleepy Eye; St. Conrad, Lester Prairie.

A diocesan celebration

of this conferral is scheduled for

Sunday Feb. 26, 2006,

at 3:00 p.m.

St. Mary, New Ulm, MN.