Chad William Zielinski (born September 8, 1964) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. Since 2014, he has served as the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Fairbanks in the state of Alaska. Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Chad W. Zielinski of Fairbanks, as Bishop of New Ulm.
Zielinski, 57, becomes the fifth bishop of the diocese and was installed during a mass held on Tuesday, Sept. 27. He will succeed Bishop John LeVoir, who led the diocese from July of 2008 until Aug. 6, 2020. Prior to his appointment to New Ulm, he served as the bishop of Fairbanks, Alaska since November 8, 2014. He was installed as the bishop of the Diocese of New Ulm on Tuesday, September 27, 2022, at the Church of St. Mary in Sleepy Eye, Minn.
Presiding was the Most Reverend Bernard A. Hebda, archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, in the presence of the Most Reverend Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States. Bishop Zielinski succeeds Bishop John M. LeVoir, who retired on August 10, 2020, after 12 years of service to the diocese.
The appointment was publicized in Washington, D.C. on July 12, 2022, by Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States.
The Most Reverend Chad W. Zielinski serves as the fifth bishop of the Diocese of New Ulm.
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Early Life and Education
Chad William 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.
"My parents were very loving and compassionate and invested a lot of time into making sure we were a family unit when it came to church," he said. "My father was always challenging his kids to better themselves and to learn more. In addition to its commitment to the Church, the family was also involved with of the Boy Scouts of America.
After finishing high school, Zielinski joined the United States Air Force (USAF). After graduating from high school and spending a summer in Valdez, Alaska, as a commercial salmon fisherman, Zielinski joined the Air Force and was stationed at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, where he worked in the 366th Supply Squadron. While stationed in Idaho, he attended Boise State University and Park University at Mountain Home AFB. 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 studied for the priesthood at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit.
"Being involved in the chapel program as a young Airman was a huge impetus for me," he said.
Zielinski was ordained into the priesthood for the Diocese of Gaylord on June 8, 1996, by Bishop Patrick R. Cooney at St.
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Priesthood
Zielinski’s first priestly assignment was as Associate Pastor of Immaculate Conception parish in Traverse City. After ordination, Zielinski served as the parochial vicar at Immaculate Conception parish in Traverse City from 1996 to 1998. He then served as the pastor of St. Philip Neri parish in Empire and St. Rita-St. Joseph parish in Maple City.
He was appointed Pastor of St. Philip Neri in Empire and St. Rita-St. Joseph in Maple City and was elected to the diocesan Presbyteral Council in 1999. 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. In 2000, he was also named Pastor for Administrative Affairs of the diocesan Mission to Hispanics.
After serving as a pastor of three parishes for six years, the events of Sept.
Following the terrorist attacks of 2001, future Bishop Zielinski felt a special tug on his heart to serve God by ministering to the men and women who protect our country. After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Bishop Cooney released Zielinski from the diocese to join the USAF Chaplain Corps. Aware of the great need for Catholic military chaplains, Bishop Cooney released him to serve in the Archdiocese for the Military Services. He served combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, celebrating mass with mortar fire in the background.
He served as a chaplain at the 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. In 2002, he began his chaplaincy at Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota. 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. Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colo. in 2009. and being assigned to HQ Air Force Recruiting Service at Randolph Air Force Base in Schertz, Texas. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. From 2012 to 2014 he served as chaplain at Eielson Air Force Base in Fairbanks, Alaska. In 2012 he was called to Alaska to serve as Chaplain to the 354th Fighter Wing at Eielson Air Force Base in Fairbanks, where he was recently contacted by the Apostolic Nuncio telling him of the Pope’s decision that he serve as the Bishop of the Fairbanks diocese.
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In the course of his military career, Bishop Zielinski served three tours of duty in war zones, including Iraq and Afghanistan. “I guess the Church has prepared me for the military and the military has prepared me for the Church,” he wrote. “We receive orders and we go, whether coming from a general or the Pope.” He has received numerous military awards and decorations for his service, and was promoted to the rank of Major in July of 2013.
War has marked every servicemember's career for more than a decade and Zielinski is no exception. "These were exciting, rewarding and powerful experiences," he said. "I saw some pretty horrific things as an Air Force chaplain working with the Army covering 18 combat outposts. "The Air Force has afforded me the opportunity through education and life experiences to really hone in on what it means to be a leader," said Zielinski.
"Chaplain Zielinski is an extraordinary officer who has served in a series of high-profile positions during his career, including ministry to cadets at the United States Air Force Academy and serving as the face of the Chaplain Corps on the Air Force Recruiting Service team," said Chaplain (Col.) Dondi Costin, the Pacific Air Forces command chaplain. "More importantly, he's served alongside warriors in combat when and where our nation needed him the most.
"Thankfully, a large number of those beneficiaries belong to our military family, and I know for certain they'll be in the best of hands," Costin added. "I'm equally grateful that Chaplain Zielinski has been granted the opportunity to continue serving Eielson Airmen as a chaplain in the Air Force Reserve.
Interview with Bishop Chad Zielinski 2/1/16
Bishop of Fairbanks
Pope Francis named Zielinski as bishop of Fairbanks on November 8, 2014. When named to Fairbanks, he became the first active-duty chaplain in the US Armed Forces to be appointed a Catholic bishop. He was consecrated on December 15, 2014, by Archbishop Roger Schwietz. Archbishop Timothy Broglio and Bishop Steven J.
Pope Francis named Zielinski the bishop of Fairbanks on November 8, 2014. He was consecrated on December 15, 2014 by Archbishop Roger Schwietz, O.M.I. of Anchorage. Archbishop Timothy Broglio for the Military Services, USA and Bishop Steven J. Raica of Gaylord were the principal co-consecrators.
Monsignor Douglas L. His Excellency, The Most ReverendChad William ZielinskiBishop of FairbanksArchdioceseAnchorageDioceseFairbanksAppointedNovember 8, 2014InstalledDecember 15, 2014PredecessorDonald Joseph KettlerOrdersOrdinationJune 8, 1996 by Patrick R. CooneyConsecrationDecember 15, 2014 by Roger Lawrence Schwietz, Timothy Broglio, Steven J.
"Zielinski exemplifies many of the qualities needed to serve the people of the Diocese of Fairbanks," said Schweitz. "He has learned to work with people from all backgrounds, and do so under the stresses of war. Yet he is also humble and prayerful.
Contemplating the future, he wrote “No human person could ever script something like this. I certainly would never have thought in a thousand years this would ever happen to me, as I have never wanted something like this… My simple approach to this call in life is to love the Lord my God with all my heart, all my soul and all my mind, and serve my brothers and sisters in the diocese of Fairbanks. I say this fully knowing I need God’s grace and their talents and abilities to climb a very steep learning curve.
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.
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