Vicar general in Madison Diocese named bishop of Sioux Falls, S.D.

Published: 2006-08-31

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI has named Msgr. Paul J. Swain, vicar general of the Diocese of Madison, Wis., as bishop of Sioux Falls, S.D. Bishop-designate Swain succeeds Bishop Robert J. Carlson, who was appointed bishop of Saginaw, Mich., in December 2004. Msgr. Martin Krebs, charge d'affaires at the apostolic nunciature in Washington, announced the appointment Aug. 31. Bishop-designate Swain, who turns 63 Sept. 12, became a Catholic at age 39 and was ordained to the priesthood five years later. Prior to entering the church, he had been an Air Force intelligence officer serving in Vietnam from 1967 to 1972, winning the Bronze Star Medal. He was also legal counsel and policy director for Wisconsin Gov. Lee Dreyfus, a Republican, from 1979 to 1983. Bishop-designate Swain also practiced law in Madison. In an Aug. 31 statement Bishop-designate Swain described his adult life as being marked by two phases. "One was in the secular sphere that included military service, civil law practice and government office. The second came after undergoing a spiritual conversion that changed and refocused my life," he said.

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