The Visitor

On Jan. 25, 1977, Father John Kinney knelt in the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis in front of Archbishop John Roach, who poured chrism oil over the head of the 39-year-old priest — part of the ordination liturgy making him, at the time, the youngest bishop in the U.S.

During 35 years of episcopal leadership, Bishop Kinney has experienced the joys as well as the challenges of leading the faithful — first as an auxiliary bishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis, then as bishop of Bismarck, N.D., and since 1995 as bishop of St. Cloud.

“To be asked by the church to fulfill the office of bishop is a tremendous honor,” he said in a Jan. 16 interview with The Visitor.

“It is also a burden at times,” he added, “but I love doing what I’m doing, and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. That’s the source of my gratitude. I do feel the presence of Christ and the Holy Spirit. Those oils that were poured over my head 35 years ago, they’re still sinking in, and that’s a great blessing.”

The biggest challenge he faces today? “For me, it’s to keep being pastoral and to keep addressing issues as a pastor because that’s what every priest and every bishop is called to be. Sometimes, there’s a temptation, at least for me, to get into a kind of CEO/administrative mode where I forget who I really am. What I am called to be is a shepherd and a good pastor — hopefully a model shepherd for the priests and with the people.”

His greatest joy as a bishop? “I think there is a comfortableness that develops over the years between the bishops and the priests and people of a diocese,” Bishop Kinney said. “I think the longer you are in an assignment, the more everybody feels comfortable with each other. I really feel that now. We’ve come to know each other and, hopefully, warts and all, to fall in love with each other over these years. That’s a tremendous gift. I don’t take that for granted because I know that doesn’t necessarily happen in each and every assignment and each and every diocese.”

On June 11, Bishop Kinney will turn 75 years old, the normal retirement age for bishops. He said he doesn’t have the same energy and stamina he did when he was first ordained a bishop. But when the time to retire arrives, he said that “letting go” of the reins of leadership won’t be easy “because I’ve been doing this a long time.”

He said “the support, the love and the comfort of the priests, the deacons, the religious and all the people of the diocese has been a wonderful gift.

“There are days I get in the car and ask myself, ‘Why am I doing this today?’” Bishop Kinney added. “And the answer is: ‘I love Christ and these are wonderful people.’”

Those wishing to send a card to Bishop Kinney may send it to: Bishop John Kinney, Chancery-Diocese of St. Cloud, P.O. Box 1248, St. Cloud, MN 56302-1248.