Michael William Warfel

Michael William Warfel (born September 16, 1948) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church serving as the bishop of the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings in Montana since 2007. He previously served as bishop of the Diocese of Juneau in Alaska from 1996 to 2007

His Excellency, The Most Reverend

Michael William Warfel
Bishop of Great Falls–Billings
ArchdiocesePortland in Oregon
DioceseGreat Falls–Billings
AppointedNovember 20, 2007
InstalledJanuary 16, 2008
PredecessorAnthony Michael Milone
Orders
OrdinationApril 26, 1980
by Francis Thomas Hurley
ConsecrationDecember 17, 1996
by Francis Thomas Hurley, Michael Joseph Kaniecki, and William S. Skylstad
Personal details
Born (1948-09-16) September 16, 1948
Elkhart, Indiana
Previous post(s)Bishop of Juneau (1996–2007)
MottoALWAYS TO WALK IN CHRIST
Styles of
Michael William Warfel
Reference style
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleBishop

Biography

Michael Warfel was born in Elkhart, Indiana, and studied at Indiana University. He then entered St. Gregory's College Seminary in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he obtained a Bachelor of Philosophy degree. Warfel received a Master of Divinity degree from Mount St. Mary's Seminary of the West in Cincinnati. He attended St. Michael's College in Colchester, Vermont, for Master of Theology degree.

Warfel was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Anchorage on April 26, 1980.

On November 19, 1996, Warfel was appointed as the fourth bishop of the Diocese of Juneau by Pope John Paul II. He received his episcopal consecration on December 17 1996 from Archbishop Francis Hurley, with Bishops Michael Kaniecki and William Skylstad serving as co-consecrators. As bishop, Warfel served as chairman of the Committee on Evangelization within the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) from 1999 to 2002.

He was named apostolic administrator of Diocese of Fairbanks on October 23, 2001. That responsibility ended with the appointment of Bishop Donald Kettler on June 7, 2002.[1]

Pope Benedict XVI named Warfel the seventh bishop of the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings on November 20, 2007.[2][3] He was installed by Archbishop John Vlazny on January 16, 2008.

Within the USCCB, is chairman of the Subcommittee on Catholic Home Missions and a member of the administrative committee for the USCCB.

In the fall of 2021, anticipating his retirement in 2023, he asked for the appointment of a bishop coadjutor to assist him and smooth the transition to his successor. In response, Pope Francis named Jeffrey M. Fleming bishop coadjutor elect on April 19, 2022.[4]

References
  1. "Rinunce e Nomine, 07.06.2002" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. June 7, 2002. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  2. "Rinunce e Nomine, 20.11.2007" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. November 20, 2007. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  3. Billings Gazette. Catholic Diocese of Great Falls-Billings installs new bishop January 17, 2008
  4. "Fr Jeffrey Michael Fleming named Coadjutor Bishop of Great Falls-Billings" (PDF). Retrieved April 19, 2022.
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