Connection to 3M continues in unexpected way for Bishop Izen

By Joe Ruff The Catholic Spirit

Bishop Michael Izen worked as a computer systems analyst at 3M in Maplewood from 1989 to 1998. His brother, Paul, is a retired vice president of operations at the company; the two played on the same corporate basketball team.

In a coincidence none could have predicted, Bishop Izen will minister as an auxiliary bishop in the old 3M headquarters on St. Paul’s east side, a building leased starting in 2017 and purchased last year by the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Constructed in 1939 and on the National Register of Historic Places, the building serves as the archdiocese’s central administrative and ministry offices, including for Archbishop Bernard Hebda and Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Williams.

When then-Father Izen’s appointment as an auxiliary bishop was announced Jan. 5, Archbishop Hebda lightheartedly suggested at a news conference that the bishop-to-be consider including in his coat of arms the famous 3M-developed and trademarked Post-it note. Asked later about the archbishop’s comment, Bishop Izen noted that his new office in the Archdiocesan Catholic Center is part of what used to be one of 3M’s main conference rooms. “I couldn’t have predicted that,” the bishop said in a March email. “In my nine years at corporate headquarters, I don’t think I ever visited this original 3M site, but it is a cool connection,” he wrote. “My announcement back in January triggered a department reunion for my co-workers. About 15 of us met at the end of February for dinner and conversation.”

Steve Horan, who hired and supervised the bishop at 3M and has become a close friend, was at the reunion, held Feb. 25 in a community room at Carondelet Village in St. Paul. So was Jeff Fritz, also a friend of the bishop who worked three or four cubicles down from

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE of love in my family for him and for his priesthood.”

In 2003, Bishop Izen decided to take time away from the seminary for more prayer and discernment. He came back and then became part of the 15-member 2005 ordination class, the largest in recent history. Far from being overwhelmed by the large group, he found his way into the center — and into the other men’s hearts and lives.

“We accepted him,” said Father David Hennen, pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Hastings and a member of the 2005 class. “I think we have great relationships among the 15 of us. I think of the people he interviewed with when he first joined 3M,” said Anderson, who retired from the company two years ago. “I recall teasing him about being a Johnnie (St. John’s University in Collegeville) as I was a Tommie (University of St. Thomas in St. Paul). He was well-liked at 3M and a hard worker.”

Anderson said he and Bishop Izen often enjoyed lunch and played multiple sports together including softball, touch football and pickup basketball. He, too, was aware of the bishop’s discernment of the priesthood. “Bishop Izen has always had a very strong faith and his decision to leave 3M to join the seminary was a huge step,” he said.

DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT him and competed against him in the same 3M basketball leagues.

Bishop-elect Michael Izen greets friend and former 3M colleague Steve Horan after Mass Jan. 5 at St. Michael in Stillwater. That day, the Vatican announced then-Father Izen had been appointed auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

“I always enjoyed playing with him; he’s a good person to compete against,” said Fritz, who remains at 3M. Bishop Izen was a reasonable competitor who could help others “calm the nerves” if a game got a little tense, Fritz said.

Fritz and Horan said they were aware of Bishop Izen’s difficult discernment about the priesthood even as he worked at a multinational company.

“He obviously made the right decision, going into the seminary and doing what he is doing now,” Fritz said. “He’s in a place where he can impact a lot of people in a lot of good ways.”

Another former workmate, Rick Anderson, said he has known Bishop Izen for more than 30 years. “I was one we’re all fairly close. We have different personalities, obviously, but he seemed to fit in well because he likes people … I was glad to have him because I thought he’d just bring a lot to us, just who he is as a person and as a priest.”

In addition to seeing Bishop Izen at regular ordination class gatherings, Father Hennen also sees him at priest support group gatherings. Once a month, their group of four priests meets to talk about what’s on their minds and hearts, whether it’s things going on in their parishes or things going on personally.

“You can be honest, and the other priests are not going to judge you because they all know what you’re going through,” Father Hennen said. “It’s just a great place of freedom, where you can be who you

Horan, a member of St. Ambrose in Woodbury, said his friend stayed with him each summer while he was studying at The St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul. When Bishop Izen took a school year off before his ordination as a priest to be certain he was doing the right thing, he lived at Horan’s house. Horan recalls the bishop volunteering at Catholic Charities’ homeless shelter in downtown St. Paul and consulting with people at the seminary about the priesthood.

“The house was open to him,” Horan said. “He’s got a room upstairs we always say is his.”

Bishop Izen said he attended Mass about three times a week while he was working at 3M, and the idea of the priesthood never left him. “The Lord never abandoned me,” he said. “The call never went away.”

When he was 28, the bishop broke up with a woman he had been dating, deciding he could not have thoughts of marriage while still feeling a call to the priesthood. In 1998, at age 31, he entered the seminary.

His time at 3M has served him well as a priest, Bishop Izen said. When hearing confessions, he can relate to concerns about relationships, discerning marriage and other issues that can dominate the lives of young people, he said.

“He is a true leader and an inspiration for others in the Catholic faith,” Fritz said of Bishop Izen. “Seeing him progress to bishop is a significant thing.” want to be. We look forward to it. All four of us look forward to it every month.”

The group started about four or five years ago, Father Hennen said, and Bishop Izen approached him to ask him to join, which he did “in a heartbeat.”

“For me, it’s an honor to be his friend because he’s such a kind man,” Father Hennen said. “He has a great sense of humor. He’s just fun to be around, and he’s also encouraging. He listens well.”

Bishop Izen’s priest friends are confident he will make a good bishop, and they are quick to point out qualities that back up their strong feelings about his readiness for his new role.

“He likes to be with people,” Father Hennen said, “whether it’s sports, or a pastoral situation or being at families’ homes. It’s where he thrives — being with people. And that’s why he’s going to make a good bishop.”

Another member of the priest support group, and 2005 ordination classmate, Father Dennis Zehren, said the bishop is “a man of the people.”

“He is a shepherd who loves to graze with the sheep,” said Father Zehren, pastor of St. Vincent de Paul in Brooklyn Park, before the bishop’s ordination. Bishop Izen’s “approach to ministry might best be described as, ‘Ask first how I can serve the people and share with them the love of Jesus. Then, ask what’s for lunch.’

“Pope Francis described a good bishop as one in ‘trusting union with Christ.’ Bishop-elect Izen demonstrates that union in all that he does.”

The Parishioners and Staff of the Cathedral of Saint Paul wish to congratulate Bishop Andrew Cozzens

The Parishioners and Staff of the Cathedral of Saint Paul wish to congratulate Bishop Michael Izen

May God bless you and the faithful of our Archdiocese!

May God bless you in your new ministry!