Michael William Warfel

Michael William Warfel (born September 16, 1948) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who was bishop of the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings in Montana from 2007 to 2023. He previously served as bishop of the Diocese of Juneau in Alaska from 1996 to 2007.

Biography Early life Michael Warfel was born on September 16, 1948, in Elkhart, Indiana. He attended Indiana University Bloomington and Indiana University South Bend, but before his graduation enlisted in the U.S. Army. Warfel served in South Vietnam for 18 months during the Vietnam War, then spent 13 months in South Korea. While a seminarian, Warfel visited his sister in Alaska. He later requested permission to transfer from the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, which was sponsoring his vocation, to the Archdiocese of Anchorage.

Priesthood Warfel was ordained to the priesthood by Francis Hurley for the Archdiocese of Anchorage on April 26, 1980, at St. Matthew Cathedral in South Bend, Indiana. After his ordination, the archdiocese assigned Warfel as parochial vicar at St. Benedict Parish in Anchorage, Alaska, from 1980 to 1985, then as pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Wasilla, Alaska, from 1985 to 1989.

The archdiocese then assigned Warfel as pastor of St. Mary Parish in Kodiak, Alaska from 1990 to 1995. While in Kodiak, Warfel instituted a Spanish-language Sunday mass . He was named pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Anchorage in 1995.

Bishop of Juneau On November 19, 1996, Warfel was appointed as the fourth bishop of Juneau by Pope John Paul II.He received his episcopal consecration on December 17, 1996, from Archbishop Francis Hurley, with Bishops Michael Kaniecki and William Skylstad serving as co-consecrators, at Centennial Hall in Juneau, Alaska.

Bishop of Great Falls-Billings Pope Benedict XVI named Warfel as seventh bishop of Great Falls-Billings on November 20, 2007.

Retirement Pope Francis accepted Warfel's resignation on August 22, 2023.