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Green Bay priest named bishop in Florida

Bp. Zubik: 'Our buttons are busting' Statement from Green Bay Bp. David Zubik on the appointment of Msgr. Frank Dewane, a priest of the Green Bay Diocese, has coadjutor bishop of Venice, Fla.: "It is with great joy that we the faithful of the Church of Green Bay share in the terrific news that today, Tuesday, April 25, Pope Benedict XVI has named one of our own priests, Rev. Msgr. Frank J. Dewane, a bishop and has appointed him as Coadjutor Bishop of the Diocese of Venice, Florida. Bishop-elect Dewane possesses many wonderful God given talents which he has used generously for the benefit of God's people not only here in the local Church of Green Bay but on the national and international front as well. "At this news, I join together with the nearly 400,000 faithful of our diocese as we wish Bishop-elect Dewane the gift of God's grace as he undertakes his new responsibilities. As our 'buttons are busting' that once again one of our own has become a bishop, we promise him our prayers that he may faithfully and lovingly serve all the people entrusted to his care."

Msgr. Frank Dewane, a priest of the Green Bay Diocese, has been named coadjutor bishop of Venice, Fla., by Pope Benedict XVI.

Msgr. Frank Dewane

Since 2001, Bishop-designate Dewane has been serving as undersecretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace at the Vatican.

As coadjutor, Bishop-designate Dewane will serve until the retirement or death of Bp. John Nevins of Venice.

Abp. Pietro Sambi, apostolic nuncio to the United States, announced the appointment April 25.

In a statement released after the announcement, Green Bay Bp. David Zubik said: "Bishop-elect Dewane possesses many wonderful God given talents which he has used generously for the benefit of God's people not only here in the local Church of Green Bay but on the national and international front as well."

Bp. Zubik said he and the nearly 400,000 Catholics of the diocese "wish Bishop-elect Dewane the gift of God's grace as he undertakes his new responsibilities. As our 'buttons are busting' that once again one of our own has become a bishop, we promise him our prayers that he may faithfully and lovingly serve all the people entrusted to his care."

Bishop-elect Dewane is the son of Ben and Eleanor (Pendergast) Dewane. He was born in Green Bay on March 9, 1950. His home parish is St. James, Cooperstown. He was ordained to the priesthood on July 16, 1988, by Bp. Adam Maida, now the cardinal-archbishop of Detroit.

Bishop-elect Dewane has a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh; a master's degree in International Administration from American University, Washington, D.C.; a degree in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome; and a licentiate in canon law from Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas University, Rome.

From 1989-1991, he was an associate pastor at Ss. Peter and Paul Parish, Green Bay, while working part-time in the diocesan Tribunal.

In June 1991, he was released for service to the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations in New York.

In 1995, he was released for service and appointed as an Official of the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum" in Rome. Since 2001, he has been the Under-Secretary of the Pontifical Council of Justice and Peace in Rome.