Donald Joseph Kettler

Donald Joseph Kettler (born November 26, 1944) is an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of St. Cloud from 2013 to 2022. Kettler previously served as bishop of the Diocese of Fairbanks from 2002 to 2013.

Biography

Early life Donald Kettler was born on November 26, 1944, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Norbert Joseph 'Joe' Kettler and Marguerite Raiche. His family later moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where Kettler and his three siblings (Jim, Beth, and Kathleen) were raised. He received undergraduate and divinity degrees at Saint John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota.

Priesthood Kettler was ordained to the priesthood at St. Joseph's Church in Sioux Falls by Bishop Lambert Hoch for the Diocese of Sioux Falls on May 29, 1970. the diocese filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, following unsuccessful negotiations to settle dozens of sexual abuse claims, on March 1, 2008. It became the sixth Catholic diocese in the United States to go bankrupt.

Bishop of St. Cloud Pope Francis named Kettler as bishop of St. Cloud on September 20, 2013. He was installed as the ninth bishop on November 7, 2013. The same day, Kettler issued an apology to the victims for the harm they suffered, and said he remained committed to "assist in the healing of all those who have been hurt."