Pope Francis Names Rev. Michael John Izen Next Auxiliary Bishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis

January 5, 2023      haldent

Episcopal Ordination of Bishop-elect Michael Izen

The Episcopal Ordination of Bishop-elect Izen will take place Tuesday, April 11 at the Cathedral of Saint Paul. See details.

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Pope Francis this morning named Father Michael John Izen, a priest of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, assigning him the titular see of Newport.

Bishop-elect Izen is currently the pastor of the Churches of Saint Michael and Saint Mary in Stillwater, the parochial administrator of the Church of St. Charles in Bayport and the canonical administrator of Saint Croix Catholic school. A native of Fairmont, Minnesota, Bishop-elect Izen, 55, earned an undergraduate degree in mathematics and computer science from St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota, and upon graduation, went to work for 3M as a systems analyst. During his nine years at 3M, it became clearer that God was calling him to discern a possible vocation to the priesthood, so he enrolled at The Saint Paul Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, earning a Masters of Divinity. Bishop-elect Izen was ordained to the priesthood May 28, 2005, by Archbishop Harry J. Flynn. Fifteen men were ordained to the priesthood that day, one of the largest ordination classes in decades.  

Following ordination, then-Father Izen ministered at Divine Mercy in Faribault until 2007, when he became pastor at Saint Timothy in Maple Lake, where he served until 2012. In February of 2012, he became pastor at Saint Raphael in Crystal, where he served until 2015 when he was assigned to Stillwater.  

As an auxiliary bishop, Bishop-elect Izen will work alongside Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda of Saint Paul and Minneapolis and Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Williams, to lead the Church in the 12-county metro area.  

“I was surprised, humbled, and a little terrified when I received the call from the Apostolic Nuncio informing me that Pope Francis had appointed me as an auxiliary bishop,” Bishop-elect Izen said. “Archbishop Hebda has been very supportive and reassuring since I first received the news – very fatherly. I look forward to being an extension of him to our Archdiocese, and serving and being present to the people of God.” 

Archbishop Hebda said: “It is with deep gratitude to Pope Francis and Christmas joy that I welcome the wonderful news of the appointment of Bishop-elect Michael Izen as an auxiliary bishop of this Archdiocese. The priests and faithful of the Archdiocese should be honored that once again the Holy Father has chosen a priest of this local Church to serve as a successor of the apostles. I have come to know Bishop-elect Izen as a generous and capable pastor with a great love for Christ and for his sheep. I have particularly admired his ability to collaborate effectively with brother priests, Religious Sisters, and lay leadership in advancing the work of the Church. His impressive natural gifts all suggest that the Lord has long been preparing him to serve as a bishop. I am confident that the Archdiocese will benefit greatly from his leadership and experience and I personally look forward to working with him more closely as he begins this new ministry. Please join me in both congratulating Bishop-elect Izen and offering him our prayers as he prepares for his upcoming ordination.”

Bishop-elect Izen was born January 12, 1967 to John and JoAnna Izen. He is the youngest of their six children. He grew up in Fairmont (in the Diocese of Winona-Rochester), attended St. John Vianney grade school and Fairmont High School, graduating in 1985. 

His episcopal ordination is scheduled for April 11, 2023, at the Cathedral of Saint Paul. The ordination will be live-streamed on the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis’ Facebook page. 

Archbishop Hebda will introduce Bishop-elect Izen today at 11:30 a.m. at the Archdiocesan Catholic Center in Saint Paul. The introduction will be live-streamed on the Archdiocese’s Facebook page. Media interested in attending in-person should contact Tom Halden, Director of Communications, at haldent@archspm.org.

Please see The Catholic Spirit for more information on Bishop-elect Izen’s appointment and see the Archdiocese’s event page for additional information on his episcopal ordination. 

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