Chad Zielinski

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His Excellency, The Most Reverend

Chad William Zielinski
Bishop of New Ulm
DioceseNew Ulm
AppointedJuly 12, 2022
InstalledSeptember 27, 2022
PredecessorJohn M. LeVoir
Orders
OrdinationJune 8, 1996
by Patrick R. Cooney
ConsecrationDecember 15, 2014
by Roger Lawrence Schwietz, Timothy Broglio, Steven J. Raica
Personal details
Born (1964-09-08) September 8, 1964 (age 59)
Detroit, Michigan, US
Previous post(s)
EducationBoise State University
Mount Angel Seminary
Sacred Heart Major Seminary
MottoHe must increase
Styles of
Chad William Zielinski
Reference style
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleBishop

Chad William Zielinski (born September 8, 1964) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who is the fifth bishop of the Diocese of New Ulm in Minnesota. He previously served as bishop of the Diocese of Fairbanks in Alaska from 2014 to 2022.

Biography[edit]

Early life and education[edit]

Chad Zielinski was born on September 8, 1964, in Detroit, Michigan, the eldest of five children to Donald and Linda Zielinski. A short time later, the family moved to a farm near Alpena, Michigan. Zielinski graduated from Alpena High School in 1982.[1] After finishing high school, Zielinski joined the United States Air Force (USAF). While stationed in Idaho, he attended Boise State University and Park University at Mountain Home AFB. It was during this period that Zielinski decided to become a priest.[2]

After his discharge from the Air Force in 1986, Zielinski enrolled in Mount Angel Seminary in St. Benedict, Oregon, earning a bachelor's degree in philosophy in 1989. He continued his studies for the priesthood at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, earning a Master of Divinity degree in 1996.

Priesthood[edit]

Zielinski was ordained into the priesthood for the Diocese of Gaylord on June 8, 1996, by Bishop Patrick R. Cooney at St. Mary Cathedral in Gaylord, Michigan.[3] After his ordination, the diocese assigned Zielinski to pastoral positions in the following Michigan parishes:

Zielinski was elected to the Presbyteral Council in 1999. Beginning in 2000, he also served as the pastor for administrative affairs of the diocesan Mission to Hispanics.

Military service[edit]

After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Bishop Cooney released Zielinski from the diocese to join the USAF Chaplain Corps. He served combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, celebrating mass with mortar fire in the background. Zielinski was stationed at Grand Forks Air Force Base in Grand Forks, North Dakota, from 2002 to 2003 and at RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk, England, from 2003 to 2005. Although he was a Catholic chaplain, he had conversations with men and women of all religions.[4]

The USAF then assigned Zielinski to the HQ Air Force Recruiting Service at Randolph Air Force Base in Schertz, Texas, followed by a stint as cadet chaplain at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, from 2009 to 2012. From 2012 to 2014, Zielinski served as chaplain at Eielson Air Force Base in Fairbanks, Alaska.[5] Zielinkski was promoted to major in 2013.[5] He was discharged from the Chaplain Corps before his installation as bishop.

Bishop of Fairbanks[edit]

Coat of Arms as Bishop of Fairbanks

Pope Francis named Zielinski as bishop of the Diocese of Fairbanks, Alaska on November 8, 2014.[6] When named to Fairbanks, he was the first active duty chaplain in the US Armed Forces to be appointed a Catholic bishop.[7] He was consecrated on December 15, 2014, by Archbishop Roger Schwietz. Archbishop Timothy Broglio and Bishop Steven J. Raica were the principal co-consecrators.[8] The liturgy was held in the Carlson Center in Fairbanks.[5][3]

In a diocese in which only nine of 46 parishes are accessible by road, the clergy, including Zielinski, spend a large amount of time traveling to small remote villages in rough conditions.[7] Zielinski said:

Not every priest is called to serve in the far north, because winters are dark and cold. But the hospitality of the people is warm and gracious, and we invite priests who feel drawn to serve here to contact us. For the right servant, who will walk with the people, this frontier can be a paradise.[7]

Bishop of New Ulm[edit]

On July 12, 2022, Francis named Zielinski the fifth bishop of the Diocese of New Ulm in Minnesota.[9] He was installed on September 27, 2022.[10][3]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Announcement: Pope names Bishop Chad W. Zielinski as Bishop of Diocese of New Ulm". Diocese of Fairbanks. July 26, 2022. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  2. ^ "Most Reverend Chad W. Zielinski Biography" (PDF). Diocese of New Ulm. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "Bishop Chad William Zielinski [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  4. ^ "Bishop Chad Zielinski: From Active Duty to Alaskan Shepherd". NCR. 2022-10-17. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  5. ^ a b c "Bishop Elect Chad Zielinski". Diocese of Fairbanks. Archived from the original on 2014-12-18. Retrieved 2014-12-18.
  6. ^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 08.11.2014" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  7. ^ a b c "Bishop of the Last Frontier". www.kofc.org. Retrieved 2022-04-14.
  8. ^ "Bishop Chad William Zielinski". Catholic-Hierarchy. Retrieved 2014-12-18.[self-published source]
  9. ^ "Pope Francis Appoints Bishop Chad Zielinski as Bishop of New Ulm | USCCB". www.usccb.org. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  10. ^ "Pope names Bishop Chad W. Zielinski as Bishop of Diocese of New Ulm" (PDF). Retrieved July 12, 2022.

External links[edit]

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Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Bishop of New Ulm
2022–present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by Bishop of Fairbanks
2014–2022 		Succeeded by
Sede Vacante
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