Most Rev. Samuel J. Aquila was ordained to the priesthood in 1976, and served in parish ministry in the Archdiocese of Denver for eleven years. He served the Archdiocese as Co-director for Continuing Education for Priests and as an advisor for the Bishop’s Committee on the Liturgy. He was Secretary for Catholic Education in the Archdiocese of Denver from 1995 until 1999. He then served as the first Rector of St. John Vianney Seminary in Denver and Chief Executive Officer of Our Lady of the New Advent Theological Institute. He was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of the Diocese of Fargo in 2001. He succeeded to the See in March 2002, upon the retirement of Bishop James S. Sullivan. Bishop Aquila serves on the Bishops’ Advisory Council for the Institute for Priestly Formation. He has served as a member of various United States Conference of Catholic Bishops committees.