Donald Joseph Kettler
Donald Joseph Kettler (born November 26, 1944) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He has been serving as bishop of the Diocese of St. Cloud in Minnesota since 2013. Kettler previously served as bishop of the Diocese of Fairbanks in Alaska from 2002 to 2013.
Donald Joseph Kettler | |
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Bishop of Saint Cloud | |
![]() Bishop Kettler in Rio de Janeiro in 2013 | |
Archdiocese | Saint Paul and Minneapolis |
Diocese | Saint Cloud |
Appointed | September 20, 2013 |
Installed | November 7, 2013 |
Predecessor | John Francis Kinney |
Orders | |
Ordination | May 29, 1970 |
Consecration | August 22, 2002 by Roger Lawrence Schwietz, Michael William Warfel, and Robert James Carlson |
Personal details | |
Born | |
Nationality | ![]() |
Denomination | Roman Catholic Church |
Previous post(s) | Bishop of Fairbanks (2002–2013) |
Motto | FAITH, HOPE, AND LOVE |
Styles of Donald Joseph Kettler | |
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Reference style | |
Spoken style | Your Excellency |
Religious style | Bishop |
Biography
Early life
Donald Kettler was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Norbert Joseph 'Joe' Kettler and Marguerite Raiche. His family later moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where Kettler and his three siblings (Jim, Beth, and Kathleen) were raised. He received undergraduate and divinity degrees at Saint John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota,
Priesthood
Kettler was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Sioux Falls on May 29, 1970. After his ordination, Kettler served as an associate pastor in parishes in Aberdeen, South Dakota, and Sioux Falls. In 1979, he left the parishes to begin coordinating work for the diocesan offices in Sioux Falls. In 1981, Kettler entered the Catholic University of America School of Canon Law in Washington, D.C., obtaining his Licentiate of Canon Law. After returning to South Dakota in 1983, he was named judicial vicar and resumed his work coordinating diocesan offices from 1984 to 1987. During this time, he also began celebrating a weekly televised mass.
After serving as rector of St. Joseph's Cathedral from 1987 to 1995, Kettler served as pastor of St. Lambert Parish from 1995 to 2000, and of Christ the King Parish from 2000 to 2002, all in Sioux Falls. Kettler was also a member of the Sioux Falls Diocesan Finance Council and the Stewardship Committee. He served on the boards of directors for the Catholic Family Services, the Association of Christian Churches of South Dakota and the Sioux Falls Catholic School System.
Bishop of Fairbanks
On June 7, 2002, Kettler was appointed the fourth bishop of the Diocese of Fairbanks by Pope John Paul II. He received his episcopal consecration on August 22, 2002, from Archbishop Roger Schwietz with Bishops Michael Warfel and Robert Carlson serving as co-consecrators. Kettler was the first diocesan priest and non-Jesuit to head the diocese.
After a public announcement three weeks earlier,[1] the diocese filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, following unsuccessful negotiations to settle dozens of sexual abuse claims, on March 1, 2008. The Diocese of Fairbanks became the sixth Catholic diocese in the United States to go bankrupt.[2]
Bishop of St. Cloud
Pope Francis named Kettler as bishop of the Diocese of St. Cloud on September 20, 2013. He was installed as the ninth bishop on November 7, 2013.
On May 26, 2020, it was agreed that the diocese could undergo bankruptcy if $22.5 million was forfeited to compensate 70 sex abuse survivors.[3] The same day, Kettler issued an apology to the sex abuse survivors for the harm they suffered, and said he remained committed to "assist in the healing of all those who have been hurt."[3]
See also
References
- Catholic News Agency. Diocese of Fairbanks to file for bankruptcy February 15, 2008
- Whispers in the Loggia. Bankrupt March 4, 2008
- "St. Cloud diocese reaches agreement on sex abuse claims".
External links
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Cloud Official Site
- Diocese of Fairbanks
- USCCB Office of Media Relations
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