Michael Owen Jackels

Born in Rapid City, South Dakota, on April 13, 1954, Jackels frequently moved as a child of a military family from Wyoming to Spain to California before settling in Nebraska to complete his secondary studies. He reports that as a young man he renounced Christianity in favor of Buddhism, but returned to Catholic practice after reading a Bible given to him by a Protestant co-worker in the dishroom of a country club. Prior to joining Kentucky's St. Pius X Seminary in 1975, Jackels attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Jackels earned his B.A. in philosophy from St. Pius X in 1977. In 1981, he completed his Master's in Theology at Mt. Saint Mary's Seminary, Emmitsburg, Maryland.[1]

After completing his master's degree, Jackels was ordained a priest for the diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska by Bishop Glennon Patrick Flavin in 1981. His first assignment was serving as the associate pastor of the Cathedral of the Risen Christ, and he also served as a teacher at Pius X High School in Lincoln. From 1982 to 1985, Jackels was assigned to be the associate pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish on the campus of the University of Nebraska, and in addition to his teaching duties at Pius X High School, he also served as the assistant vocations director for the diocese during this period.

In 1985, Jackels embarked on doctoral studies at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum)[2] in Rome, earning his doctorate in Sacred Theology in 1989.[3] His dissertation was a study of St. Catherine of Siena.

Upon completion of his doctorate, Jackels returned to Lincoln and for the next eight years served as the Diocesan Director of Religious Education, the Diocesan Master of Ceremonies, the Co-Vicar for Religious, and the Chaplain for the School Sisters of Christ the King. In 1994, Pope John Paul II honored Jackels by naming him a Prelate of Honor, earning Jackels the title of Monsignor.[4]

Jackels returned to Rome in 1997 to work for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith under Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. Pope John Paul II appointed Jackels bishop of Wichita in January, 2005.[5]

On April 4, 2005, Jackels was consecrated by Archbishop Joseph Fred Naumann of Kansas City, Kansas. Fabian Bruskewitz of Lincoln, Nebraska, and Thomas J. Olmsted of Phoenix, Arizona served as co-consecrators. Among other bishops in attendance were Bishop Paul Coakley of Salina, Kansas; Bishop Ronald Gilmore of Dodge City, Kansas; and Eugene Gerber, bishop emeritus of Wichita. Because of the size of the crowd in attendance and the small size of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Jackels' consecration took place at the larger Church of the Magdalen.

• Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dubuque Official Site