ST. CLOUD — Patrick Neary was ordained as the 10th bishop of the Diocese of St. Cloud on Tuesday, Feb. 14, during a Mass at the Cathedral of St. Mary in St. Cloud.
"Now I am lovingly surrounded by my family here in the diocese of St. Cloud," Neary said during Mass.
Pope Francis late last year named Neary as the 10th bishop of the diocese , which stretches across 16 central Minnesota counties.
Neary succeeds Bishop Donald Kettler, who served as the bishop of St. Cloud for nine years.
"Enjoy your retirement back home in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. I promise not to bug you too much. At least I think I won't have to," Neary said.
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Archbishop Christopher Pierre, who serves as the French apostolic nuncio (ambassador) to the U.S., spoke at Mass. He joked that Neary ignored his first call to take the role — under the assumption that it was a spam call.
"I forgive you." Pierre said. "Especially since you said yes to being a bishop." Pierre also re-translated "St. Cloud" to "San Cloo" in reference to the land where the saint came from.
Steven Warner, a composer and friend of Neary's from the University of Notre Dame, wrote a bilingual song for the ordination. The song includes both the diocesan mission statement and scripture verses from the ordination Mass. Paul Bednarczyk, the superior general of the Congregation of Holy Cross, traveled to St. Cloud from Rome for the ordination. Neary belongs in the same order.
Neary's installation began Monday evening, Feb. 13, with vespers — or evening prayers — where Neary knocked on the door of the church, followed by the doors opening, to symbolize his welcoming.
Neary was born and raised in La Porte, Indiana, and was the oldest of six children. After graduating high school, he entered seminary school at Notre Dame, where he graduated with a bachelor of arts in history in 1985. During his time as an undergraduate, Neary spent a semester in Mexico City, where he learned Spanish. Just prior to becoming bishop of the St. Cloud diocese, he served as pastor of Holy Redeemer Parish in Portland, Oregon.
Near the conclusion of his remarks Tuesday, Neary said he plans to go ice fishing "just to get into the culture." Neary also said he got a book on "how to speak Minnesotan" and will try to do so on his trip.
Following the ordination Mass, there was an open reception in the Park Event Center in Waite Park.
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