| Very Rev. David M. O'Connell, C.M. , university president, was quoted in an Oct. 17 Catholic New Service article about the elevation of alumnus and trustee Archbishop Daniel N. DiNardo to the College of Cardinals. See his comments in the story below. |
From: Catholic News Service Date: Oct. 17, 2007 Author: Patricia Zapor WASHINGTON (CNS) -- That the first cardinal named to a Texas diocese would be Galveston-Houston Archbishop Daniel N. DiNardo, 58, is no surprise to his friends in Pittsburgh, where he grew up and served in various capacities for 14 years. "We've been predicting this, but we didn't think it would happen for maybe another five years," said Father Louis Vallone, pastor of St. John of God Parish in McKees Rocks, Pa., who has been friends with Cardinal-designate DiNardo since 1963, when both attended Bishop's Latin School in Pittsburgh.Cardinal-designate DiNardo, one of 23 cardinals named Oct. 17 by Pope Benedict XVI, will receive his red hat in a Nov. 24 consistory at the Vatican.A native of Steubenville, Ohio, born May 23, 1949, and raised just across the state line in Pittsburgh, Cardinal-designate DiNardo was ordained for the Pittsburgh Diocese in 1977.He served there in various pastoral capacities before going to Rome, where from 1984 to 1990 he was a staff member of the Vatican Congregation for Bishops.From 1990 to 1997 he held pastoral posts in the Pittsburgh Diocese, where he was named assistant secretary for education in 1991. He taught in the ongoing formation program for priests and was assistant spiritual director at St. Paul Seminary. He also was a member of the priests' council and the board of consultors for the diocese, as well as the diocesan theological commission.He was named coadjutor bishop of Sioux City, Iowa, in 1997 and became the head of the diocese the following year.In Sioux City, he was known for a strong focus on vocations, the strengthening of adult religious education programs, a continued emphasis on the value of Catholic schools and the creation of safe environment programs for children.Cardinal-designate DiNardo received bachelor's and master's degrees from The Catholic University of America in Washington, where he is currently a member of the board of trustees. He also received a licentiate in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome and a degree in patristics, the study of the Fathers of the Church, from the Augustinianum in Rome.During his time in Rome, he also served as director of Villa Stritch, the residence for U.S. priests working at the Vatican, and taught a theology seminar in methodology at Gregorian University.He has a twin sister, Margaret; an older brother, Thomas; and a younger sister, Mary Anne.Vincentian Father David M. O'Connell, president of Catholic University, said in a statement Oct. 17 that the designation gives Cardinal-designate DiNardo "a new and privileged role in the universal church.""As cardinal, His Eminence will now share in the pastoral governance of the church throughout the world," he said. "In addition to leading the local church of Galveston-Houston, he now assumes special responsibilities as adviser to the pope and to his colleagues with whom he will, one day, elect his successor."Cardinal-designate DiNardo has consistently demonstrated both competence and care for the people of God in every task that has come before him in his distinguished career," said Father O'Connell. "In particular, his tireless commitment to evangelizing the faithful at every level of need marks him out as especially suited for this high honor within the church."
###2007 (c) Catholic News Service www.CatholicNews.com Reprinted with permission of CNS