 |
| Bishop Eusebio, Archbishop Peter & Bishop Elect Daniel |
After celebrating Mass on March 26 at his parish in Tulsa , Oklahoma Vatican ’s Apostolic Nuncio to the United States
“I was very surprised, but also “filled with a sense of … enthusiasm and excitement”, he later said. “I am humbled by Pope Francis’ appointment to serve as an auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Seattle. “These recent days have been filled with prayer both in gratitude for the Holy Father’s decision and in petition for the strength and grace to fulfill the duties of this ministry.”
“It is with deep joy that I share this good news,” Archbishop J. Peter Sartain said “His warmth and affability, coupled with his pastoral experience and competence, will be great gifts to the Archdiocese of Seattle.” Archbishop Sartain has known Msgr. Mueggenborg since his time as bishop of Little Rock , Arkansas , next door to Tulsa
Msgr Mueggenborg, 55, was born in Okarche , OK
One early event in his life, which impacted him greatly, he said, was meeting Bl. Stanley Rother, a native of Oklahoma who was martyred while working as a missionary in Guatemala , and is scheduled to be beatified in Oklahoma City
During his first year of college in 1981, Msgr. Daniel was asked to serve at Mass for the anniversary celebration of an aunt and uncle, which he agreed to, but only “reluctantly.” The priest saying Mass turned out to be Stanley Rother. Though he did not know who he was at the time, “it turned out to be one of the most pivotal decisions of my life,” he said.
“I was captivated by the deep spiritual presence that surrounded” Father Rother. There was a spirit of profound peace and love that filled the room when he entered. He possessed the qualities of character that I desired most yet had not found in my secular pursuits of college life. As a result of that Mass I began allowing myself to once again consider the possibility of becoming a priest.”
![]()
Msgr. Daniel graduated with his Bachelors of Science in Geology from Oklahoma State University in 1984, then entered St. Meinrad Seminary in southern Indiana Rome
Other adventures during his college and seminary years included two missionary trips, one to Tanzania in Africa, where he had the opportunity to climb Mount Kilimanjaro .
After his ordination to the diaconate, Pope (St.) John Paul IIinvited the new transitional deacons from the North American College, with their parents, to an audience with him at the Vatican
 |
| With Pope John Paul II |
During his time in Rome , he became very involved with the Missionaries of Charity, where he met St. Teresa of Calcutta
After his ordination to the priesthood on June 14, 1989, he was asked to serve as a chaplain for their small convent at San Gregorio in Rome
“It was a remarkable experience to be in the presence of a woman who radiated the very presence of Christ,” he said.
Father Daniel received a License in Biblical Theology in 1990 and returned to Tulsa Bishop Kelly High School and Saint Philip Neri Newman Center at the University of Tulsa
In 2005 he returned to Rome
Since 2011 he has been pastor of Christ the King Parish in Tulsa
