Please pray for the repose of the soul of my old friend Bp. Paul Sirba of Duluth. I’ve known him since the early 80’s and we were fellow parishioners at St. Agnes in St. Paul. Paul was the Assistant Priest at my 1st Solemn Mass.
Bp. Sirba died this morning of a heart attack. At the hospital he received Last Rites.
He was 59 years old.
Paul was prayerful and gracious and a real gentlemen, a priests’ priest. I have it on good authority that he was an exceptional confessor and spiritual director as a priest. And he played a heck of a good game of ping pong.
Among the siblings he leaves behind is Fr. Joseph Sirba, also of the Diocese of Duluth. There are many nieces and nephews and his mother is still alive. Prayers for them.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. May his soul and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
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Condolences to his family, community, and to you Fr. Z. He sounds a wonderful man and Bishop.
Please Lord, have mercy on his soul and comfort his family and friends, amen.
Amen. Prayers, condolences to his family and all who knew him.
I am so sorry for the loss of this friend, Uncle, son, and priest. I offer my heartfelt condolences and ??? prayers that he may rest in peace in the presence of the Angels and Saints, and that all who knew him may be consoled in the Sacred Heart of Love itself.
Praying Father! God rest his soul.
Will pray Matins for him tomorrow morning.
Please accept my condolences, Father.
I will offer Mass for him tomorrow.
This news stunned me. I think I was somewhat prepared for the death of my professors and the “old guard” from my time in college, but the death of a contemporary – especially someone as good as Bishop Sirba – is definitely a memento mori.
Praying.
Such a young bishop, and such an untimely death. What grief for the faithful of his diocese. His dear mom is especially in my prayers. Flights of angels sing Bishop Sirba to his rest.
Prayers have gone up for him. So sad to lose a good bishop/priest especially at such a young age. May he now pray for all of us.
Fr. John Ubel, rector of the Cathedral of St. Paul in Saint Paul, MN spoke of the good Bishop at evening Mass this past Sunday. “He was a good friend; kind, gentle and one of the holiest priests I have ever known…He was ready to meet Jesus.”
For those in the Twin Cities, there will be a Memorial Mass at Maternity of Mary parish in Saint Paul on Monday, December 9, at 6:30 pm.
I’ve posted some audio on my blog from the vigil and from the Mass of Christian Burial:
https://doxaweb.blog/2019/12/06/vigil-for-bishop-paul-d-sirba/
https://doxaweb.blog/2019/12/09/homily-at-the-mass-of-christian-burial-for-bishop-paul-sirba/