Pope Benedict XVI has named 61-year-old Msgr. David Kagan of the Diocese of Rockford, Ill., as the seventh bishop of the Diocese of Bismarck.
Bishop-elect Kagan succeeds Bishop Paul A. Zipfel, 76, who has served as the bishop of Bismarck since 1997. Pope Benedict also accepted Bishop Zipfel's resignation, which he submitted at the mandatory retirement age of 75.
The phone call that Kagan received last Saturday nearly went unanswered, since the number on the caller ID was unfamiliar and Kagan said dryly that his number seems to attract sales calls for siding.
But he did pick it up. He had been chosen to become Bismarck's bishop and he needed to answer "yes or no." His answer was "yes." He was allowed to tell two people, his own bishop and Bishop Zipfel - the rest was supposed to remain a pontifical secret.
Kagan kept the secret, he said with wry humor, but he seems to have been the only one. Internet and rumor took off and made the "secret" pretty porous.
Bishop Zipfel said he received the phone call with joyousness, "sheer delight," he said. He said he was surprised at how quickly the process worked.
"This is a wonderful diocese," he said he told Kagan. "You won't realize it until you come here, but it's marvelous."
Kagan said that he has been reflecting on his experience in both teaching, health care and as a parish priest, to see how his experience will fit with this diocese.
"It takes a while to sink in," he said. "This is a life-changing time for me."
He grew up in a small town in Illinois, with just more than 100 people, most first-generation German-Americans, he said.
Succeeding Bishop Zipfel, Kagan said he had "tremendous shoes to fill." Zipfel is a model of the "good shepherd," he said.
The initial information that he has learned about the diocese is that it has an excellent presbytery, priests, deacons and laity.
"The vitality of the faith in the diocese is a a tremendous asset," Kagan said.
His staff already has been contacted by those responsible for creating his coat of arms, he said. He said he has chosen a motto from the Rule of St. Benedict, however - "Prefer nothing to the love of Christ."
Kagan grew up in Spring Grove, Ill. He holds a bachelor's of arts in philosophy, an S.T.B. in Sacred Theology and master's of arts in Sacred Theology and a licentiate in Canon Law, all from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.
He was ordained a priest at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Rockford in 1975. Kagan has served at a number of parishes in the diocese and in various positions including high school religion instructor, teacher of medical ethics at St. Anthony Hospital School of Nursing in Rockford, parish pastor and parochial administrator. Diocesan positions included Judicial Vicar, Diocesan Tribunal, director of the Office of Communications, member of the College of Consultors and Chancellor, among others. He was named pastor at the Holy Family Church in Rockford in July 2010.
Kagan was created a Prelate of Honor of His Holiness, by Pope John Paul II, in 1994, and was admitted to the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem as a Knight Commander in March 1995. In 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.
His ordination and installation is scheduled for Nov. 30 at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit.
Read more: http://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/monsignor-david-kagan-of-rockford-ill-named-bishop-of-bismarck/article_34e751ac-fa63-11e0-b5ce-001cc4c03286.html#ixzz1bWpnWcw0
Bishop-elect Kagan succeeds Bishop Paul A. Zipfel, 76, who has served as the bishop of Bismarck since 1997. Pope Benedict also accepted Bishop Zipfel's resignation, which he submitted at the mandatory retirement age of 75.
The phone call that Kagan received last Saturday nearly went unanswered, since the number on the caller ID was unfamiliar and Kagan said dryly that his number seems to attract sales calls for siding.
But he did pick it up. He had been chosen to become Bismarck's bishop and he needed to answer "yes or no." His answer was "yes." He was allowed to tell two people, his own bishop and Bishop Zipfel - the rest was supposed to remain a pontifical secret.
Kagan kept the secret, he said with wry humor, but he seems to have been the only one. Internet and rumor took off and made the "secret" pretty porous.
Bishop Zipfel said he received the phone call with joyousness, "sheer delight," he said. He said he was surprised at how quickly the process worked.
"This is a wonderful diocese," he said he told Kagan. "You won't realize it until you come here, but it's marvelous."
Kagan said that he has been reflecting on his experience in both teaching, health care and as a parish priest, to see how his experience will fit with this diocese.
"It takes a while to sink in," he said. "This is a life-changing time for me."
He grew up in a small town in Illinois, with just more than 100 people, most first-generation German-Americans, he said.
Succeeding Bishop Zipfel, Kagan said he had "tremendous shoes to fill." Zipfel is a model of the "good shepherd," he said.
The initial information that he has learned about the diocese is that it has an excellent presbytery, priests, deacons and laity.
"The vitality of the faith in the diocese is a a tremendous asset," Kagan said.
His staff already has been contacted by those responsible for creating his coat of arms, he said. He said he has chosen a motto from the Rule of St. Benedict, however - "Prefer nothing to the love of Christ."
Kagan grew up in Spring Grove, Ill. He holds a bachelor's of arts in philosophy, an S.T.B. in Sacred Theology and master's of arts in Sacred Theology and a licentiate in Canon Law, all from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.
He was ordained a priest at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Rockford in 1975. Kagan has served at a number of parishes in the diocese and in various positions including high school religion instructor, teacher of medical ethics at St. Anthony Hospital School of Nursing in Rockford, parish pastor and parochial administrator. Diocesan positions included Judicial Vicar, Diocesan Tribunal, director of the Office of Communications, member of the College of Consultors and Chancellor, among others. He was named pastor at the Holy Family Church in Rockford in July 2010.
Kagan was created a Prelate of Honor of His Holiness, by Pope John Paul II, in 1994, and was admitted to the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem as a Knight Commander in March 1995. In 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.
His ordination and installation is scheduled for Nov. 30 at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit.
Read more: http://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/monsignor-david-kagan-of-rockford-ill-named-bishop-of-bismarck/article_34e751ac-fa63-11e0-b5ce-001cc4c03286.html#ixzz1bWpnWcw0
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