Archbishop's web site Denver Catholic Register Parishes Catholic Pastoral Center
March 27, 2002
Bishop Sullivan of Fargo, N.D., resigns, is succeeded by coadjutor
WASHINGTON (CNS) — Pope John Paul II has accepted the resignation of Bishop James S. Sullivan of Fargo, N.D.
Bishop Sullivan, 72, is automatically succeeded by Bishop Samuel J. Aquila, who was appointed coadjutor bishop of Fargo last June.
The changes were announced in Washington March 18 by Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, papal nuncio to the United States.
Samuel Joseph Aquila was born in Burbank, Calif., on Sept. 24, 1950. He studied at St. Thomas Seminary in Denver, where he earned a master's in theology, and at San Anselmo University in Rome, where he earned a licentiate in sacred theology. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Denver Archdiocese in 1976.
Then-Father Aquila served as assistant pastor at parishes in Colorado Springs and Denver from 1976-82; he was pastor of Guardian Angels Parish in Denver, 1982-87, and served on the priests' council.
He did graduate studies at San Anselmo University from 1987 to 1990. Following that, he was both the Denver Archdiocese's director of liturgy and co-director of continuing education for priests until 1994. From 1994 to 1999, he was archdiocesan secretary for Catholic education and then was rector of St. John Vianney Theological Seminary until being named coadjutor.
At the time of his appointment, Bishop Aquila said he looked forward to continuing "the work of evangelization" and pointing "the people I serve to Jesus Christ."
"As I think through my 25 years of service as a priest, so many things come to mind — the parishes where I served, the ministries I shared with wonderful priests, deacons, religious and lay people," he said.
"I feel that in all these tasks the Lord has been preparing me to be useful to this Church, our Church, here and today," added the bishop, whose episcopal ordination was Aug. 29, 2001.
Bishop Sullivan was born in Kalamazoo, Mich., on July 23, 1929. Ordained a priest of the Diocese of Lansing, Mich., on June 4, 1955, he was named auxiliary bishop of Lansing in July 1972, and appointed bishop of Fargo in April 1985.
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