The Rev. Paul Sirba, former advisor at the St. John Vianney Seminary and a St. Thomas alum, was named bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Duluth Thursday.

Sirba’s promotion comes just months after he was appointed vicar general and moderator of the curia for the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.

The 49-year-old Sirba is a native of Bloomington, a graduate of Holy Angels and has served as a priest in the Twin Cities since 1986, when he graduated from the St. Paul Seminary. He worked at the SJV from 1991 to 2000 and at the St. Paul Seminary from 2006 until this past July.

Sirba replaces Bishop Dennis Schnurr, who left to become archbishop of Cincinnati.