BISHOP JOHN C. NIENSTEDT
2001-2007
Born:
March 18, 1947
Detroit, Michigan
Family:
Father: John C. Nienstedt (deceased)
Mother: Elizabeth S. (Kennedy) Nienstedt (deceased)
Siblings: Richard T. Nienstedt
Michael L. Nienstedt
Barbara Jean (Nienstedt) Buttell
Mary Beth Nienstedt
Corinne Mary Nienstedt
Education/Degrees:
1969 B.A., Sacred Heart Major Seminary (Detroit, Michigan)
1972 Bachelor of Sacred Theology (S.T.B.), Pontifical Gregorian University (Rome, Italy)
1977 Licentiate in Sacred Theology (S.T.L.), Pontifical Institute of Saint Alphonsus (Rome, Italy)
1985 Doctorate in Sacred Theology (S.T.D.), Pontifical Institute of Saint Alphonsus (Rome, Italy)
Doctoral topic: "Human Life in a Test-tube: The Moral Dimension of In Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer"
Ministry:
July 27, 1974 Ordination to the Presbyterate at Sacred Heart Church, Dearborn, Michigan, by Bishop Joseph L. Imesch for the Archdiocese of Detroit
1974-1976 Associate Pastor, Guardian Angels Parish, Clawson, Michigan
1977 Weekend Associate Pastor at St. Fabian's Parish, Farmington Hills, Michigan
1977-1978 Part-time professor of Moral Theology at St. John Provincial Seminary, Plymouth, Michigan
1977-1980 Priest-Secretary to Cardinal John F. Dearden, archbishop of Detroit
1978-1980 Weekend Associate Pastor at Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, Farmington, Michigan
1979-1980 Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Detroit
1980-1985 Minor Official of the Second Grade to the Vatican Secretariat of State, Rome, Italy
1986-1987 Pastor, St. Patrick Parish, Union Lake, Michigan
1987-1988 Designated Rector of Sacred Heart Major Seminary, Detroit, Michigan
1988-1994 Rector and President of Sacred Heart Major Seminary, Detroit, Michigan
1988-2000 Assistant Professor of Moral Theology at Sacred Heart Major Seminary, Detroit, Michigan
1994-1996 Pastor of the Shrine of the Little Flower Parish, Royal Oak, Michigan
June 12, 1996 Named auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Detroit by Pope John Paul II
July 9, 1996 Ordination to the Episcopate by Cardinal Adam J. Maida
1996-2001 Served as Bishop for the South region of the Archdiocese of Detroit
June 12, 2001 Named third bishop of the Diocese of New Ulm by Pope John Paul II
August 6, 2001 Installed as bishop of the Diocese of New Ulm at the Church of St. Mary, Sleepy Eye
April 24, 2007 Named coadjutor archbishop of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and apostolic administrator of the Diocese of New Ulm by Pope Benedict XVI. Served as apostolic administrator until December 13, 2007.
May 2, 2008 Named archbishop of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis by Pope Benedict XVI. Served as archbishop until June 15, 2015.
Honors:
June 4, 1985 Appointed a Chaplain to His Holiness by Pope John Paul II, bearing the title "Monsignor"
May 26, 1990 Appointed a Prelate of Honor by Pope John Paul II
May 15, 1994 Invested as Knight of the Holy Sepulcher
Publications:
1994 "On the Wings of Healing Prayer: The Hospital Prayerbook", Heliographs, Ltd, co-authored with Rabbi Dannel Schwartz and Reverend Charles Richter
1999 "A Catholic Perspective on Forgiveness", Catholic Near East (January-February 1999, pp. 27-29)
2001 "Re-examining the ERD's on Cooperation", Ethics and Medics, Volume 26, number 5 (May 2001, pp. 1-2)
2001 "Christ, the Divine Physician and Healer", Linacre Quarterly, Volume 68, No. 4 (November 2001, pp. 358-360)
2002 "The Distinct Yet Related Parts of Seminary Formation", Origins, Volume 32, Issue 20 (October 24, 2002, pp. 336-338)
2003 "Bioethical Challenges for the Church", Origins, Volume 32, Issue 41 (March 7, 2003, pp. 676-682)
2003 "Religious Bodies Challenge Minnesota Concealed Gun Law", Origins, Volume 33, Issue 7 (June 26, 2003, p. 103)
2006 "Facing Down the New Paradign: The Family Planning Agenda of the United Nations' 'Millennial Goals',"Crisis, vol. 24, no. 3 (April 2006), 20-25