WINONA, Minn. – Catholics in the Winona-Rochester Diocese woke up to a new bishop. An announcement from the Vatican said Robert Barron, an auxiliary bishop in Los Angeles, was appointed to succeed John Quinn, who is retiring at age 76. Barron is known mostly for his 10-part television series “Catholicism: The New Evangelization” in 2013. His installation Mass has been set for July 29.
Bishop’s profile
Barron studied at Mundelein Seminary in Chicago and at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.S. He was ordained in 1986. He was an associate pastor for three years. He completed a doctorate of sacred theology from Institut Catholique de Paris where. He taught at Mundelein Seminary from 1992 to 2015 and was president-rector from 2012 to 2015. He is media-savvy. In 2000 he launched his “Word on Fire Catholic Ministries” for aglobal audience. His 2013 documentary series “Catholicism: The New Evangelization” on U.S. public television made him the first priest since Fulton Sheen in the 1950s to have a regular national program on a commercial network. Barron hosts a website. “Barron’s Word on Fire,” with daily blog posts, articles and video commentaries. He has 3.1 million Facebook followers.
Winona Diocese history
The Wniona Diocese, renamed Winona-Rochester in 20018, has had eight bishops.Their terms averaged 16 years.
1889: Joseph Bernard Cotter
1910: Patrick Richard Heffron
1928: Francis Martin Kelly
1949: Edward Aloysius Fitzgerald
1969: Loras Joseph Watters
`987: John George Vlazny
1998: Bernard Joseph Harrington
2009: John M. Quinn
2022: Robert E. Barron
Robert Barron. Grew up in Chicago and Detroit. Age 62.
Diocese profile
The Diocese of Winona-Rochester stretches across the 20 southernmost Minnesota counties. About 130,000 Catholics live in the diocese. There are 107 parishes, four high schools, 30 elementary schools. and the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary at St. Mary’s University in Winona.