New Bishop Has Strong Ties To Education

(KNSI) – Father Patrick Neary was introduced as the new head of the Diocese of St. Cloud Thursday morning. He will officially replace Bishop Donald Kettler in February.

Neary grew up in Indiana, graduated from Notre Dame and the University of California, and spent much of his time as a priest in an educational setting. He was a chaplain for the Notre Dame ROTC and assistant rector at the seminary in South Bend. He later was appointed as district superior for the Holy Cross in East Africa for six years where he oversaw seminaries in Kenya and Uganda.

Bishop-elect Neary says universities are vital to the future of the church and is excited about how many there are here in his new home. Neary talks about the role of universities within the broader church.

“It’s upholding the richness of our intellectual and spiritual tradition. But it’s taking a new direction. It’s because faith always has to speak to reason, has to speak to the current human condition and where we are, and I think the church has so much to offer modern people, but we’ve got to find those new and creative ways to communicate these truths.”

From his Midwest roots, Neary has spread the church’s message to three different continents. He says Mexico, in particular, helped shape him into the man he is today.

“From the bullfighting, I went to see the ancient kind of indigenous cultures that are there, the temples but also the ancient churches the Spanish missionaries built. And that conglomeration of indigenous and Spanish culture, that deep vibrant faith, Our Lady of Guadalupe, and so Mexico kind of awakened in me a love of Latin America.”

Bishop-elect Neary is fluent in Spanish and will be able to connect to a growing part of the diocese. He made some of his remarks Thursday in the language during his introductory press conference.

Neary’s latest stop was Portland, Oregon, where he served as pastor for Holy Redeemer Parish.

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