Bishop gets New Ulm welcome

Formal installation ceremonies today

in Sleepy Eye

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- With polka music, the Concord Singers, a three-shot salute by the New Ulm Battery and the Heritagefest Narren, Bishop John C. Nienstedt truly got a New Ulm welcome Sunday afternoon at Turner Hall.

The Jeff Franta Band played polka music as Nienstedt arrived, escorted by New Ulm Police.

The welcome quickly moved from the hot and humid outdoors to air conditioned Turner Hall. By the time the Concord Singers were well into their performance, Nienstedt, Koelpin, New Ulm City Council President Dan Beranek and others were dancing hand-in-hand with the Narren.

Master of Ceremonies Bill O'Connor made it no secret that he was Irish and had a good sense of humor.

"Why did I come here?" O'Connor asked. "Because it's the last place in the world the devil would look for an Irishman."

Koelpin proclaimed Aug. 4, 2001 Bishop Nienstedt Day. He praised the Diocese of New Ulm Office and others like it for fostering and maintaining the harmony, tranquility, good government and solid education that have been part of the heritage of New Ulm for many years.

"Such pastoral services benefit not only those under your supervision but contribute to the values and standards that make life in this city enjoyable," Koelpin said. "You'll find this city rich in history, abundant in beauty and strong in good order. Sixteen commissions appointed by the citizenry are at work to preserve community life, foster community growth and are sensitive to the needs of all citizens."

Nienstedt was nearly overwhelmed by his welcome.

"Wow, this is fantastic," Nienstedt said. "Thank you for the warm, warm welcome. New Ulm is a lush, beautiful, beautiful place. I'm glad to be here. What clean streets. Not a speck of dirt anywhere."

Nienstedt called himself a three-quarters Irishman with a German name from an Irish community in Detroit. He explained how that came about.

"We figured it had to be a good, solid German got into the beer, stayed a little too long and married one of the lasses," Nienstedt said, describing how he got a German name.

O'Connor said it was wonderful to have an Irish bishop in town, particularly when he was told here that it would be a cold day in hell when that would happen.

Nienstedt, a native of Detroit, will be installed as bishop of the Diocese of New Ulm at 2 p.m. today in temporarily air conditioned St. Mary's Church in Sleepy Eye. He served the Archdiocese of Detroit since 1996 as one of six auxiliary bishops.

About 40 bishops and archbishops and more than 100 priests will be in attendance, representing dioceses and archdioceses in 18 states.

The installation of a bishop has only happened twice prior in the history of the New Ulm Diocese. Bishop Alphonse Schladweiler served from 1957-75 and Raymond Lucker from 1975-2000.

The diocese comprises 15 counties in southwestern and south central Minnesota with a Catholic population of 70,800.