Bishop Paul Dudley

Dudley, Bishop Paul V. Paul Vincent Dudley was born November 29, 1926, on the family farm in Waterford Township, Dakota County, Minnesota, to Edward and Margaret (Nolan) Dudley. He was baptized and confirmed at the Church of St. Dominic and attended the South Waterford School, Rosary School, Nazareth Hall and St. Paul Seminary. He was ordained a priest on June 2, 1951. He served as an Associate Pastor at Annunciation Church in South Minneapolis, St. Patrick Catholic Church in St. Paul, was the Founding Pastor of the Church of St. Edward in Bloomington, and Pastor of Our Lady of the Lake in Mound. On January 25, 1977, he was ordained a Bishop and served as Auxiliary Bishop and Pastor of St. James in St. Paul. From 1978 - 1995 he served as Bishop of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He served as Pastor of the Church of St. Dominic from 1995 until his retirement in 1997. He spent his retirement years on the Dudley farm at Northfield. On June 2, 2001, he celebrated 50 years of priesthood with a Mass of Thanksgiving in Northfield, Minnesota. Bishop Paul loved life and was full of love, energy and enthusiasm. He loved to entertain at his trailer home on the family farm in Northfield, Minnesota. Family, friends, and fellow priests were always welcome at his home. His deep respect for all human life, from conception to natural death was a guiding principle and the many ministries with which he was involved witnessed this respect. He was active in many pro-life organizations including Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL). Total Life Care, and Prolife across America. He was also active serving the poor and spent many hours in service feeding the homeless at Caring and Sharing Hands. He was active in Cursillo, Youth Ministry, and St. Paul Outreach. As an unwavering supporter of Catholic Education, Bishop Paul never turned down an invitation to participate in Catholic Schools Week or a school liturgy, especially at St. Dominic School in Northfield and Holy Cross School (LNMV Area Catholic Schools) in Webster, Minnesota. He actively supported religious and lay vocations, mentoring priests and nuns. Survivors include his brother, John & wife Pat of Northfield; 2 sisters- in-law: Bernas Rinsem of Faribault and Donna Dudley of LeCenter; 29 nieces & nephews, and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; his sisters: Marcella & Margaret Dudley, Mary Highfield, Dorothy Sheehan; and his brothers: Joseph, Edward Jr., Fr. Francis and Robert. Bishop Paul passed away Monday evening, November 20, 2006 at St. Joseph's Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota at the age of 79. A Vigil Mass will be 10:00 AM Tuesday, November 28, 2006, at the Church of St. Dominic in Northfield. Visitation will be 4-8 PM Monday, November 27, 2006 at the Church of St. Dominic followed by an all night Vigil & Eucharistic Adoration at St. Dominic. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 AM on Wednesday, November 29, 2006, at the St. Paul Cathedral. Visitation will be 4-8 PM Tuesday, November 28, 2006 at the St. Paul Seminary followed by an all night Vigil & Eucharistic Adoration at St. Paul Seminary. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery, Northfield. Casket bearers will be John, Brian, Dan, Mike, and J. B. Dudley, and Joseph Arnold. Memorials are preferred to St. Dominic School, St. Paul Seminary or the donor's choice. Benson & Langehough (507) 645-5123
This obituary was originally published in the Star Tribune.