Bishop Cupich | Diocese of Rapid City

Well folks, here’s another one for you. It is expected that, as early as tomorrow, Bishop Blase Joseph Cupich will be appointed as the sixth bishop of the Diocese of Spokane. Bishop-designate Cupich currently serves as the head of the Church in Western South Dakota (the Diocese of Rapid City), where he has served as bishop since 1998. Cupich replaces Bishop William Skylstad, who is retiring after 20 years as the head of the Spokane Church.

Bishop-designate Cupich was born in Omaha, Nebraska on March 19, 1949. He attended seminary at the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy. Upon graduating from St. Thomas, the Archdiocese of Omaha sent him to study theology at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Omaha on August 16, 1975. Bishop Cupich is also a graduate from the Catholic University of America, obtaining a Sacramental Theology degree from the university in 1979.

Since his ordination to the priesthood, Cupich has served in various capacities within the church: Associate Pastor, high school and college instructor, Pastor, and Rector/President of the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio. He has also served as Director of the Office for Divine Worship within the Archdiocese of Omaha, Chair of the Commission on Youth, and Secretary to the Apostolic Nunciature in Washington, D.C. Nationally, he currently serves on the National Pastoral Life Center Board of Directors, the USCCB Committee on Protection of Children and Young People, the USCCB Task Force on Priestly and Religious Vocations and the Catholic Extension Society Board of Governors.

Throughout his episcopacy, Bishop Cupich has, time and time again, stood up for the rights of those members of our society who are the weakest. In response to an abortion ban in 2006 by the South Dakota legislature, Bishop Cupich reminded the people of the state:

“A change in law or structures is necessary, but not sufficient, if human dignity is to be defended and promoted in our society today. Our fellow citizens need to be convinced in their hearts and minds about the dignity of human life in all of its stages. We must look for new opportunities to build a culture of life; otherwise, new laws will rest on a weak foundation…[O]ur commitment to the dignity of human life and the human person must include support for other measures that will ensure a living wage for workers, adequate health care for families, the education of our youth and an end to the death penalty. When our society promotes education, literacy, employment, etc., the resulting social stability will contribute to a diminishment in the number of abortions.”

A news report from Spokane is already reporting the story about Bishop Cupich being appointed as the sixth Bishop of Spokane.

UPDATE: Shortly after posting the original message, I received an email from the Diocese of Spokane. In the email, the diocese stated that there is no official confirmation regarding an appointment for the Spokane Diocese.  They are stating that the local TV station seems to have prematurely reported an “announcement that has yet to be made.”

UPDATE 2: Okay, it is almost official. According to the most prominent Catholic blogs, Whispers and AmP, the announcement should come in the morning, although the Diocese is not ready to confirm. Also, tomorrow will see the announcement of two Auxiliary Bishops for the Archdiocese of Boston.

More at 6 a.m.