On January 5, 2023, Pope Francis 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 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) and attended St. John Vianney grade school, followed by Fairmont High School, graduating in 1985. Bishop Izen 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 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 2012, he became pastor at Saint Raphael in Crystal, where he served until 2015. Bishop 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.
As an auxiliary bishop, Bishop Izen will work alongside Archbishop Bernard Hebda 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 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.”
Bishop Izen’s episcopal ordination took place Tuesday, April 11, 2023 at the Cathedral of Saint Paul.
