Catholic Charities Welcomes New Bishop to Central Minnesota

December 27, 2022

Catholic Charities warmly welcomes Father Patrick Neary to Central Minnesota. Pope Francis named Father Neary, C.S.C., a member of the Congregation of Holy Cross, as the 10th bishop of the Diocese of St. Cloud on Dec.15. Bishop-elect Neary was in St. Cloud for the announcement, and he visited some of the diocese’s offices and met with staff.


“I identify very much with the mission statement [of the Diocese of Saint Cloud],” said Father Neary. “Our mission is to be His heart of mercy, voice of hope, hands of justice.”


On Dec. 16, Steve Pareja, Executive Director of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Saint Cloud, gave Bishop-elect Neary a tour of Catholic Charities. Father Neary also met with some of the leadership staff of Catholic Charities during the tour.



“Bishop-elect Neary was excited to hear about all of our programs and was thrilled to hear how many employees and volunteers work to serve our communities,” said Pareja. “After his ordination as Bishop, he is anxious to learn more about Catholic Charities and the great work we do.”


Catholic Charities is a nonprofit organization supported by generous individuals, foundations, businesses, and faith communities. At the heart of Catholic Charities is people. People seeking help, people offering help and people who believe that we are all a community of neighbors, here in central Minnesota. The most important people to us are our clients: those whom we humbly serve.


The Diocese of St. Cloud includes 131 parishes spread across 16 counties in Central Minnesota and includes a Catholic population of around 125,000 people.

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On Tuesday, January 28th, a group of students from Trex North School visited Pond View Estates in Albany, organized by Sandy Baldwin, group leader, and in collaboration with Catholic Charities in St. Cloud. Julie Ueland, the student advisor, helped oversee the project to ensure everything went smoothly. Pond View Estates is a Senior Dining Congregate Kitchen, where seniors gather to enjoy meals and socialize, making it a perfect environment for these students to connect with the residents. When the students arrived, the residents were delighted by the youthful energy and enthusiasm they brought. The students quickly got to work helping the seniors create Valentine’s cards before lunch. The atmosphere was filled with creativity and laughter as everyone worked together to make colorful and thoughtful cards. Afterward, the group enjoyed lunch together, where the dining hall was full of lively conversation. The students interacted with the seniors, hearing their stories and building new connections. The visit bridged generations, fostering meaningful and joyful interactions. The highlight of the day was the bingo game that followed lunch, where excitement filled the room as the numbers were called. Friendly competition brought plenty of laughs, especially when someone was just one number away from winning, only for another participant to grab the prize first. The fun, camaraderie, and shared moments left everyone smiling. A few standout interactions included Joseph and Riley spending time with resident Victor Tschida, and Tianna sharing a special moment with resident Ken Bunger. These connections highlighted the deep impact of intergenerational friendships. For many of the residents, the visit from the students was an unexpected but cherished experience, reminding everyone of the importance of making time for one another. It was a beautiful day of fostering community, connection, and kindness. As the students prepared to leave, there was a sense of fulfillment in the air. Not only had the day brightened the seniors' lives, but it also left a lasting impression on the students, who gained a deeper understanding of the joy and fulfillment that comes from spending quality time with others. The day ended with smiles, hugs, and promises to return, a reminder of how powerful and meaningful human connection can be.

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