MINNEAPOLIS (MN)
Star Tribune
Dec. 1, 2019
By Paul Walsh
The bishop of the Roman Catholic Church’s diocese in Duluth for the past 10 years died Sunday morning.
Paul Sirba, 59, suffered cardiac arrest at St. Rose Church in Proctor and was taken to Essentia Health St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth, where lifesaving measures were tried in vain, read a statement from the Rev. James Bissonette, Sirba’s vicar general.
News of Sirba’s death about 9 a.m. was disclosed to diocese staff and announced during mass at parishes around the region.
“Words do not adequately express our sorrow at this sudden loss of our Shepherd,” Bissonette’s statement continued. “We have great hope and faith in Bishop Sirba’s resurrection to new life, and have confident assurance that he will hear the words of our Lord: ‘Well done, good and faithful servant, enter in the joy of your Master.’ ”
Sirba’s death comes about six weeks after a federal judge approved a nearly $40 million settlement between the diocese and survivors of clergy abuse. The settlement allows the diocese to emerge from bankruptcy after it filed for protection from its creditors in December 2015.
In addition to payouts to about 125 people who filed claims against the diocese, the church agreed to open its files on more than three dozen priests who had been credibly accused of abuse and develop procedures to ensure children will be protected from su
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