Fairbanks Bishop to Leave Alaska for Minnesota

By Dermot Cole
Alaska Dispatch
September 20, 2013

http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/20130920/fairbanks-bishop-leave-alaska-minnesota-0

Fairbanks Bishop Donald Kettler will be leaving Alaska to take over as the Catholic bishop in St. Cloud, Minn., the Fairbanks Diocese announced today.

Kettler, who has been the Fairbanks bishop for 11 years, is to assume his new Minnesota post Nov. 7. On Friday, Pope Francis appointed Anchorage Archbishop Roger L. Schwietz as temporary administrator in Kettler's absense. Schwietz will serve until the pope appoints a new bishop.

Kettler oversaw the diocese through the process of dealing with sexual abuse charges and reorganization through Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. The diocese encompasses a vast territory of about 400,000 square miles.

A press release from the diocese quoted Kettler about his new assignment as saying: “I was deeply touched. While it is sad to leave the people of Alaska, who I have come to love, I have a sense of returning home with this new assignment."

“My time in Alaska has deepened my sense of the church’s missionary role. I hope to bring that perspective to St. Cloud, which already enjoys a rich and vibrant history,” Kettler said.

Contact: dermot@alaskadispatch.com