Joseph G. Hanefeldt

Joseph Gerard Hanefeldt (born April 25, 1958) is an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He has been serving as bishop of the Latin Church Diocese of Grand Island in Nebraska in the United States since 2015.

Biography

Early life and education Joseph Hanefeldt was born on April 25, 1958, in Creighton, Nebraska, to Helen and Adolph Hanefeldt. He has two brothers and one sister. He attended St. Ludger Catholic School and then high school at Creighton Public School, graduating in 1976.

After finishing high school, Hanefeldt decided to become a priest. He began his studies for the priesthood in 1976 at St. John Vianney College Seminary at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. He graduated from St. Thomas in 1980 with a Bachelor of Arts in sociology.

Priesthood Hanefeldt was ordained a priest at St. Ludger parish church by Archbishop Jean Jadot for the Archdiocese of Omaha on July 14, 1984. After his ordination, the archdiocese assigned Hanefeldt as parochial vicar at the following parishes in Nebraska:

St. Mary in West Point (1984 to 1988) St. Joan of Arc in Omaha (1988 to 1992). He was also named director of the diocesan Pro-Life Office, a position he would hold for the next 24 years. Kakkuzhiyil was acquitted of the charges in July 2019.