One of the blessings of having a priest be named an auxiliary bishop for the diocese he currently serves is that “he already knows our parishes and priests,” said Archbishop Bernard Hebda of St. Paul and Minneapolis, referring to the April 11 episcopal ordination of Bishop-elect Michael Izen. He will serve the archdiocese as its second auxiliary bishop, joining Bishop Joseph Williams.
Having two auxiliary bishops does not mean “the bishop can rest,” Archbishop Hebda said, “but, rather, that we can be more present and more active to more people.”
Archbishop Hebda, who will preside at the ordination, recently joined “Practicing Catholic” radio show host Patrick Conley to discuss what to expect during the upcoming “episcopal ordination” and how he sees the new bishop’s gifts serving the archdiocese.
Auxiliary bishops help make the archbishop’s ministry and the Church be present “in so many different situations,” the archbishop said. “We have a dynamic archdiocese with nearly 190 parishes, with a good number of schools, and so to be able to have a bishop present in those parishes and schools is, I think, a great blessing.
“We also have so many other organizations, Catholic organizations and associations that operate here, and everybody always likes to have a bishop present,” Archbishop Hebda said. So having two auxiliary bishops is “tremendous,” he said.
“And I know that he’s very trusted by our priests, and I think that bodes well for his episcopal ministry,” the archbishop said.
Bishop-elect Izen has served the Churches of St. Michael and St. Mary in Stillwater the past seven years, and Archbishop Hebda described his solid experience in both rural and metro parishes, including ministering to more than one parish at a time. “So, I know he’s going to be working with our priests closely,” he said, and with parishes.
“We also know he has a real love for Catholic schools,” the archbishop said, “so I’m imagining that he’s going to really help me in that area.”
The archbishop mentioned the archdiocese’s “wonderful director” of the Office for the Mission of Catholic Education, Jason Slattery, but added that it would be “wonderful” for Bishop Izen to “be really present to our schools and our teachers and just to always be reminding them of the importance of the mission of Catholic education.”
During the interview, Archbishop Hebda described some of the papal nuncio’s work that helps determine a bishop candidate, including communications held “under pontifical secret.” To learn more details and to hear the full interview, listen to this episode of “Practicing Catholic,” which debuts at 9 p.m. March 24 on Relevant Radio 1330 AM and repeats at 1 p.m. March 25 and 2 p.m. March 26.
For more details on Bishop-elect Izen’s ordination, visit archspm.org/events.
Produced by Relevant Radio and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, the latest show also includes an interview with Archbishop Hebda and Anne Cullen Miller, president of the Catholic Community Foundation, who discuss the foundation’s contributions the past 30 years; and Nick Pickert and Dave Wilson from Our Lady of the Lake in Mound, who describe how gathering at Lenten fish frys (shrimp frys at their parish) offers a sense of community.
Listen to interviews after they have aired at PracticingCatholicShow.com or choose a streaming platform at anchor.fm/practicing-catholic-show.
