Saint Mary’s honors Bishop Quinn, Winona Diocese at Centennial Convocation
 The Saint Mary's Centennial Convocation 2012  |
| Brother William, Saint Mary's president, left, and Michael Gostomski, president of the Saint Mary's Board of Trustees, right, present an honorary doctorate to Bishop John Quinn during the University Centennial Convocation. |
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| The Centennial Award was presented to the Diocese of Winona by Brother William, center left, and Michael Gostomski, right. Accepting the award are Bishop John Quinn, center right, and Father Richard Colletti, Vicar General, left. |
The text of the proclamation accompanying the degree certificate is included below:
Whereas, Bishop John Quinn has since his ordination forty years ago admirably dedicated his life in service of the Church as priest, pastor, and shepherd; and
Whereas, Bishop John Quinn has demonstrated a life-long love of learning as a student of philosophy, religious education, and systematic theology; and
Whereas, Bishop John Quinn has, as a secondary school teacher, university professor, diocesan director of education, and university trustee, actively worked to support the ministry of education and evangelization in Catholic schools and universities; and
Whereas, Bishop John Quinn has contributed significantly to the priestly formation, education, and accompaniment of seminarians at Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit and at Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Winona; and
Whereas, Bishop John Quinn has provided assistance to the developmentally disabled as a member of the Order of Alhambra, to the disadvantaged and poor through his work as Episcopal Advisor of the National Council of the Saint Vincent de Paul Society, and to the development and strengthening of family life as Episcopal Moderator of the Blessed Adolph Kolping Society; and
Whereas, Bishop John Quinn has loyally and faithfully served the people of God as twenty-third Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Detroit and as eighth Bishop of the Diocese of Winona; and
Whereas, Saint Mary’s University thanks God that this successor of Bishop Joseph Bernard Cotter and Bishop Patrick Richard Heffron has been given the graces necessary to help so many others become, in the words of Saint John Baptist de La Salle, true children of God and citizens of heaven;
The Board of Trustees of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota bestows on Bishop John Michael Quinn the degree of Doctor of Pastoral Ministry, Honoris Causa.
Additionally, Brother William presented the Winona Diocese with the Centennial Award “in grateful recognition of our century-long shared heritage and for its continued ministry — boldly proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit and in unity with the universal Church, advancing God’s Kingdom of peace, justice and love.”
As it celebrates its Centennial year and prepares the launch of its second century, Saint Mary’s University, founded by the Diocese of Winona and rooted in its Lasallian Catholic identity, stands strong as a transformational and innovative top-tier national university with a global footprint.
A full schedule of Centennial events is planned for the 2012-13 academic year. For more information, go to www.saintmarys100.com.
