Check out the special section in The Catholic Mirror introducing Bishop Richard E. Pates, selected by the Holy Father to become the next bishop of the Des Moines diocese. 

Bishop Pates's May 29 installation ceremony is open to the public. Mark your calendars:
  -- Wednesday, May 28, 7 p.m. vespers service, St. Ambrose Cathedral
  -- Thursday, May 29, 2 p.m. installation, Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines
      - Map to Hy-Vee hall
      - Driving instructions

Read the notes of congratulations and well wishes flowing in. Send us your thoughts to be posted here.

See Bishop Pates' page on our website, containing a slideshow from the day his appointment was announced, his remarks in English and Spanish, statements from various bishops in the region and more.

Watch a slide show of Bishop Pates' day.
Listen to Bishop Pates' news conference remarks in Spanish.
Listen to Bishop Pates' news conference remarks in English.
Hear directly from Bishop Pates about his reaction to his appointment to Des Moines, his vocation story, his family and his first impressions of Iowa.

At right, Bishop Richard Pates visits with Kelly Hedstrom and her eight-month-old son Junior at Catholic Charities' St. Joseph Emergency Family Shelter at the end of his first full day in Des Moines as its bishop-designate. A volunteer made tacos for dinner and Bishop Pates ate and visited with the residents of the homeless shelter.

Press release announcing the appointment of Bishop Richard Pates to the Diocese of Des Moines
Read Bishop Pates' remarks (English)
Read Bishop Pates' remarks (Spanish)
Process for selecting a bishop
Timeline
Glossary
Fact sheet on the Diocese of Des Moines

Bishop Richard Pates, at right, visits with students at Dowling Catholic High School.

Statements from:
Bishop Emeritus Joseph L. Charron, C.PP.S.
Archbishop Jerome Hanus, O.S.B
Archbishop Harry J. Flynn
Archbishop John Nienstedt
Archbishop Elden Curtiss
Bishop Martin Amos
Bishop R. Walker Nickless
Bishop Emeritus William H. Bullock