Bishop Carlson says he brings no set agenda to new post in Saginaw

Published: 2004-12-30

SAGINAW, Mich. (CNS) -- Bishop Robert J. Carlson, who will be the new bishop for the Saginaw Diocese, said his first priority will be "to listen to the people." The bishop, who has led the Diocese of Sioux Falls, S.D., since 1995, will be installed as Saginaw's fifth bishop Feb. 24 at St. Mary Cathedral. His appointment was announced in Washington Dec. 29 by Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, apostolic nuncio to the United States, nine months after the death of Bishop Kenneth E. Untener, who had served the Saginaw Diocese since November 1980. Father Thomas Sutton, acting diocesan administrator, will continue in that position until Bishop Carlson's installation. In remarks to the media, diocesan priests and staff members in Saginaw Dec. 29, Bishop Carlson said he looked forward to meeting the priests, religious and people of his new diocese. Unlike Bishop Untener, who sold the bishop's mansion and lived in more than 70 parishes during his long tenure, Bishop Carlson said he planned to purchase a home near the diocesan offices.

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