The Rev. Edward M. Girres, who served in Fort Dodge for about a decade, is retiring, according to an announcement from the Diocese of Sioux City.

He was in Fort Dodge from 1999 to 2008. He came to the city to be part of a team ministry with other priests for eight parishes in Webster County. Those eight churches came together to form today’s Holy Trinity Parish.

Girres has most recently served as the pastor of four parishes: St. Cecelia in Algona, St. Joseph in Bode, Saints Peter and Paul in West Bend and St. Michael in Whittemore.

The diocese reported that Girres will remain as rector of the Shrine of the Grotto of the Redemption in West Bend.

He is a native of West Bend. He attended St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota, and the Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium.

He was ordained July 21, 1979, at Saints Peter and Paul Church in West Bend.

During the last 42 years, Girres has also served at St. Bernard Parish in Breda, Kuemper High School In Carroll, Bishop Heelan High School in Sioux City, and Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City.

He has also served as the director of the Office of Youth Ministry and assistant superintendent of the Office of Religious Education.