Bishop of Saginaw
Robert Dwayne Gruss was born on June 25, 1955, in Texarkana, in the Diocese of Little Rock (Arkansas). After attending Saint John Elementary School and Edgerton Community High School in Edgerton, Wisconsin (1970–1973), he earned an Associate Degree in Civil Engineering from Madison Area Technical College in Madison, Wisconsin (1973–1975), and a Commercial Pilot’s License from the Spartan School of Aeronautics in Tulsa, Oklahoma (1979). For several years, he worked as an airline pilot and aviation instructor (1980–1989). Upon entering the seminary, he pursued ecclesiastical studies at Saint Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa (1988–1990), and subsequently at the Pontifical North American College (1990–1994) and the Angelicum in Rome, where he obtained a Master of Arts in Spiritual Theology (1994). Later, he earned a diploma in Spirituality from the Institute of Priestly Formation in Omaha, Nebraska (1999). He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Davenport (Iowa) on July 2, 1994. As a priest, he held the following positions: Parochial Vicar of Saint Paul the Apostle Parish in Davenport (1994–1997) and of the three parishes in Marion County—Saint Anthony Parish in Knoxville, Sacred Heart Parish in Melcher, and Saint Mary Parish in Pella (1997–1999); Pastor of Saint Mary Parish in Pella (1999–2004); Director of Priestly Vocations (2004–2007); Diocesan Chancellor and Director of the Propagation of the Faith and the diocesan Victim Assistance Program (2005–2007); and Vice-Rector and Director of Human Formation at the North American College in Rome (2007–2010). Since 2010, he has served as Rector and Pastor of Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish in Davenport. In 2007, he was named a Chaplain to His Holiness. Appointed Bishop of Rapid City on May 26, 2011, he received episcopal consecration on July 28 of that year.