Background
Etienne, Paul D. was born on June 15, 1959 in Tell City, Indiana, United States.
Etienne, Paul D. was born on June 15, 1959 in Tell City, Indiana, United States.
Bachelor, University St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota. STB, Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome. Licentiate of Sacred Theology, Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome.
He currently serves as the eighth Bishop of Cheyenne, Wyoming. Early life and education
He obtained Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration in 1986. After several years of work, he began his ecclesiastical studies in Rome at the Pontifical Gregorian University and the University Angelicum, where he obtained a Licentiate in Spiritual Theology in 1995.
Ordination and ministry
Etienne was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis on June 27, 1992.
Father Etienne served in the following positions: assistant pastor of the Saint Barnabas Parish, Indianapolis (1992–1993). Director of Vocations (1995–1998).
And pastor of the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in New Albany (1998–2008). Beginning 2002, he served at Saint John the Baptist Parish in New Albany, and pastor of the Saint Simon the Apostle Parish and Saint John the Evangelist in Indianapolis (2008–2009).
He also served as vice-rector of the Bishop Simon Bruté College Seminary in Indianapolis (from 2008), and pastor of the Saint Paul Parish at Tell City (from 2009).
Bishop of Cheyenne, Wyoming
Bishop Etienne succeeded Bishop David L. Ricken, who was named the Bishop of the Diocese of Green Bay on July 9, 2008. On October 19, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him the Bishop of the Diocese of Cheyenne in Wyoming. Etienne noted when he received the appointment.
Describing how heard he noted that: "t was bizarre.
I don"t know what else to say. Archbishop Sambi called the office at the parish and it was my day official
We had to play phone tag. I was up at the farm with a chain saw, working in the woods.
And, when he called, I was just getting out of my pickup truck.
I was in my Carhart jeans and in my work boots, and had nothing to take notes with. I was just sitting there in my truck listening to him tell me that I"ve just been named bishop. And he had to say "Cheyenne" four times before I could understand what he was saying."
He was consecrated as bishop on December 9, 2009, and took possession of the see on the same day.
He was also Consultant and member of the archdiocesan council of priests.
