News

Native son gives thanks at Cathedral Mass

By Brian Kohls
Compass Correspondent

	GIVING THANKS: Bp. Frank Dewane, Abp. Timothy Dolan and Bp. David Zubik concelebrate a Mass in St. Francis Xavier Cathedral celebrating Bp. Dewane's ordination. (Rick Evans photo)
	Related articles: from August 11, 2006 issue: • Large Cooperstown group sees ordination of native son from April 28, 2006 issue: • Green Bay priest named Florida bishop   Sidebar: Biography   Sidebar: New bishop represented Vatican in many locales • New bishop possesses many skills • Bp. Zubik: News brings great joy to diocese • Bridging the Gap by Bishop David Zubik --     Bridging the Gap: A new bishop!

Eighteen years after Bp. Frank Dewane was ordained a priest in St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, Green Bay, he returned to celebrate another ordination. This time was as coadjutor Bishop of Venice, Fla.

"I never felt like I left," Bp. Dewane said, at the reception after Mass. He concelebrated the Mass with Bp. David Zubik; Abp. Timothy Dolan and Auxiliary Bp. Richard Sklba, both of Milwaukee; retired Bp. Robert Banks and Auxiliary Bp. Robert Morneau, both of Green Bay; retired Bp. Mark Schmitt of Marquette, Mich.; and 30 priests.

"To all the priests here and the priests who could not make it here ... I thank them for their example to me," Bp. Dewane said.

Priests as role models, he said, ties into the two questions raised in the Gospel story of when Jesus and Nathanael first met: "Who do you say I am?" and "How does Jesus know me?"

We answer those questions not only with what we say, but how we live, Bp. Dewane said. "It is quite a challenge."

Although being Christ-like may be difficult, Bp. Dewane encouraged Christians to embrace the opportunity.

"Let us go forward from this Mass and show the Lord how we answer those questions," he said. "Christians will come to know him by how we live and how we answer that question: 'Who do you say that I am?'"

Dewane family members at the Mass said they were still excited about Bp. Dewane's episcopal ordination on July 25, in Venice, and the Aug. 20 Mass of Thanksgiving at St. James Church, Cooperstown, his home parish.

"We are thrilled," Mary Anderson of Phoenix, a sister of Bp. Dewane, said about recent events.

"We had fun," Peggy Dewane, another sister, said about the ordination. "It was one family reunion after another. We have a lot of cousins. My mom was from a big family. It was fun," said the Oshkosh resident and St. Raphael parishioner.

One relative who attended the event was his cousin Msgr. John Dewane, a retired diocesan priest, who will soon begin a three-year assignment as the spiritual director for the graduate house of the North American College in Rome.

Sue Vine of Neenah, another cousin, said the family's heritage played a part in why the new bishop originally became interested in the priesthood.

"We are Irish Catholics," Vine said. But even more, "our parents were great (Christian) examples."

Other family members who became priests are cousins Fr. Dan Dewane (retired) and Fr. Thomas Dewane, O.Praem. Another cousin, Sr. Patricia Touhey, is a member of the Manitowoc Franciscans.

A third Mass of Thanksgiving for Bp. Dewane was celebrated Aug. 27 at Sacred Heart Church, Oshkosh, where he often celebrated Mass while vacationing as under secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace in Rome.

Bp. Dewane also served in the Green Bay Diocese, as a member of the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations in New York City, and as a member of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, the pope's charity arm.

He will become the second Bishop of Venice after Bp. John Nevins retires. Bp. Nevins will turn 75, the traditional retirement age for bishops, on Jan. 19, 2007.