Announcement by Diocese of Rockford of Msgr Kagan appoint to Diocese of Bismarck

Announcements

Pope Benedict names Msgr. David Kagan Bishop of the Diocese of Bismarck

By Penny Wiegert
Editor

WASHINGTON, D.C.--Pope Benedict XVI has named Msgr. David Kagan, P.A., to be the seventh bishop of the Diocese of Bismarck, ND. The appointment was announced in Washington early Wednesday, Oct. 19, by the apostolic nunciature office and a press conference was held in Bismarck at 10:30 a.m. the same day.

Bishop-elect Kagan, 61, succeeds Bishop Paul A. Zipfel, 76, who has served as the Bishop of Bismarck since 1997. In naming a successor to Bishop Zipfel, Pope Benedict also accepted Bishop Zipfel's resignation from the pastoral governance of the diocese, which he submitted at the mandatory retirement age of 75.

"It is with profound gratitude to Almighty God and to Our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, that I have been named to be the next Bishop of the Diocese of Bismarck, North Dakota. I am humbled by our Holy Father's appointment and I need and ask for prayers that I may fulfill this new ministry after the Heart of Christ Jesus, the Eternal High Priest," Bishop-elect Kagan told The Observer

Prior to his appointment by the Holy See, Msgr. Kagan was Vicar General, Moderator of the Curia and pastor of Holy Family Parish in Rockford.

After receiving word of the announcement Bishop Thomas G. Doran said, "It is a great joy and great complement to the priests of the Diocese of Rockford that twice, in barely over a year and a half, our priests have been chosen to be shepherds of other dioceses. Msgr. David Kagan has served this diocese faithfully and fruitfully for all the years of his priesthood and, in my judgement, deserves the honor and responsibility of being the seventh bishop of Bismarck, North Dakota."

"Msgr. Kagan's departure will be a loss to the Diocese of Rockford because he has been, for the last 17 years, in administrative work for the diocese as Officialis of the Tribunal, Chancellor, vicar general, moderator of the curia and associate publisher of The Observer. To lose a person that knowledgable is of course a sacrifice. But as it was with Bishop Timothy Doherty, we are happy. And the good people of Lafayette in Indiana and the people of the Diocese of Bismarck, have received from our priests, the best we have to offer. I wish Msgr. Kagan and the people he will serve, every blessing and happiness," Bishop Doran said.

Bishop-elect Kagan was Born in Waukegan, Nov. 9, 1949 and grew up in Spring Grove. He holds a B.A. in Philosophy, an S.T.B. in Sacred Theology and M.A. in Sacred Theology and a licentiate in Canon Law all from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. Msgr. Kagan was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Arthur J. O'Neill in 1975. He has served the diocese at parishes including at St. Patrick, Dixon; St. Ann, Warren; St. Joseph, Apple River; Cathedral of St. Peter, Rockford; St. Mary, Byron; St. James, Rockford; St. Patrick, Rochelle; and St. James, Belvidere. He has served as chaplain for Maria Linden in Rockford and for the Poor Clares in Rockford. He has been director of the Office of Communication and of Vianney Oaks, and has served on various committees and councils.

His diocesan administrative positions also include service to the Tribunal as judge, vice-officialis and as officialis; service as chancellor ad interim, as promoter of the Third Legislative Synod of the diocese; as associate publisher of The Observer; as misconduct officer for the diocese; and service as diocesan consultor, moderator of the curia, and as vicar general.

He was named a Prelate of Honor of His Holiness and received the title of monsignor in 1994 and was admitted to the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem as a Knight Commander in 1995. July 2011 he was invested in the Ferrialo of a Prelate to signify his elevation to the title of Protonotary Apostolic Super Numerary of the Supreme Pontiff which is the highest level of honor for a monsignor.

Bishop-elect Kagan's ordination and installation Mass and ceremony is scheduled for Nov. 30. Watch for special coverage in the The Observer.