Bishop Neary celebrates his second anniversary Feb. 14

On Feb. 14, Bishop Patrick M. Neary, CSC, celebrated his second anniversary as the bishop of the St. Cloud Diocese.

Before becoming the bishop, he recalled blocking the calls of Papal Nuncio Cardinal Christophe Pierre, assuming it was spam, and struggling to sort out how each piece of his bishop’s gear was to be worn.

In his column reflecting on his first anniversary, he wrote on the steep learning curve of the year, and ended that column with: “While I’ve never had a busier schedule in my life, deep down I feel grateful and at peace. I now feel at home here. If I could summarize what I have experienced so far, I would echo the words of Dag Hammarskjold, a former U.N. secretary general, who once wrote, ‘For all that has been, thanks. For all that will be, yes!’”

Since his installation in 2023, people look forward to his warmth, enthusiasm and positivity as he presides at Mass and at parish and diocesan events, celebrates confirmations, ordains men to the diaconate and to the priesthood, spends time with his priests where they live and minister, connects with the religious brothers and sisters who serve in the diocese, meets with the lay men and women who work for the diocese and listens to the concerns of faithful parishioners throughout the diocese.

Having served as the diocese’s shepherd for two years, he brings the Diocese of St. Cloud a new vision full of hope.