Fernando Isern
Encyclopedia
Bishop Fernando Isern is a Cuba
n-born bishop
of the Roman Catholic Church
. Formerly a pastor
and high school
president in the Archdiocese of Miami
, he is the current Bishop
of the Diocese of Pueblo
.
. In 1963, his family went into exile first in Venezuela and in 1967 to Miami. He graduated from Champagnat Catholic School
in 1977. Isern graduated from Florida International University
in 1982, from where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts
degree in Business Administration. He also studied at St. John Vianney College Seminary in Miami
and St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach
. He was ordained
to the priesthood
on April 16, 1993.
He then served as a parochial vicar
at St. Mark Church in Southwest Ranches
until 1996, when he was transferred to St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church in Pompano Beach
. In 1999, he became an adjunct professor at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary, assistant chaplain
for the Archdiocesan Youth Center and for Encuentros Juveniles. He was also a parochial vicar at St. Agnes Church in Key Biscayne
(1999-2002). He was a parochial vicar (2002-2003) and afterwards pastor
(2003-2009) of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Miami. From 2008 to 2009, he was also President of Archbishop Coleman F. Carroll High School
in Miami. He is affiliated with the Schoenstatt Movement
.
On October 15, 2009, Isern was appointed the fourth Bishop of Pueblo
, Colorado
, by Pope Benedict XVI
. He received his episcopal
consecration
on December 10, 2009. His principal consecrator was Archbishop Charles J. Chaput
, the principal co-consecrators were Archbishop John C. Favalora and Bishop Arthur N. Tafoya
. He is the 11th priest from the Archdiocese of Miami to become a bishop.
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n-born bishop
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. Formerly a pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
and high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
president in the Archdiocese of Miami
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami
The Archdiocese of Miami is a particular church of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States of America. Its ecclesiastic territory includes Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe counties in the U.S. state of Florida. The archdiocese is the metropolitan see for the Ecclesiastical Province of Miami,...
, he is the current Bishop
Ordinary
In those hierarchically organised churches of Western Christianity which have an ecclesiastical law system, an ordinary is an officer of the church who by reason of office has ordinary power to execute the church's laws...
of the Diocese of Pueblo
Roman Catholic Diocese of Pueblo
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Pueblo is a Roman Catholic diocese in Colorado. The diocese was founded on November 15, 1941. It encompasses the southern half of Colorado, from Utah to the west, to Kansas in the east....
.
Biography
Fernando Isern was born in HavanaHavana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
. In 1963, his family went into exile first in Venezuela and in 1967 to Miami. He graduated from Champagnat Catholic School
Champagnat Catholic School
Champagnat Catholic School is a private school with campuses in Miami and Hialeah, Florida, United States. Established in 1968, the schools serve approximately 430 students in prekindergarten through grade 12.- History :...
in 1977. Isern graduated from Florida International University
Florida International University
Florida International University is an American public research university in metropolitan Miami, Florida, in the United States, with its main campus in University Park...
in 1982, from where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in Business Administration. He also studied at St. John Vianney College Seminary in Miami
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
and St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach
Boynton Beach, Florida
Boynton Beach is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. The population was 60,389 at the 2000 census. As of 2006, the city had a population of 66,714 according to the University of Florida, Bureau of Economic and Business Research...
. He was ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
to the priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
on April 16, 1993.
He then served as a parochial vicar
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
at St. Mark Church in Southwest Ranches
Southwest Ranches, Florida
Southwest Ranches, located on the eastern edge of the Florida Everglades, southwest of Fort Lauderdale, is Broward County's 30th incorporated place, having incorporated in the year 2000 to avoid annexation by the city of Pembroke Pines and to preserve its semi-rural lifestyle...
until 1996, when he was transferred to St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church in Pompano Beach
Pompano Beach, Florida
Pompano Beach ) is a city in Broward County, Florida, along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean just to the north of Fort Lauderdale. The nearby Hillsboro Inlet forms part of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 99,845...
. In 1999, he became an adjunct professor at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary, assistant chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
for the Archdiocesan Youth Center and for Encuentros Juveniles. He was also a parochial vicar at St. Agnes Church in Key Biscayne
Key Biscayne, Florida
Key Biscayne is a village in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States on the island of Key Biscayne. The population was 10,507 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 10,324....
(1999-2002). He was a parochial vicar (2002-2003) and afterwards pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
(2003-2009) of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Miami. From 2008 to 2009, he was also President of Archbishop Coleman F. Carroll High School
Archbishop Coleman F. Carroll High School
Archbishop Coleman F. Carroll High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in The Hammocks, unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami.-Background:...
in Miami. He is affiliated with the Schoenstatt Movement
Schoenstatt Movement
The Apostolic Movement of Schoenstatt is a Roman Catholic Marian Movement founded in Germany in 1914 by Father Joseph Kentenich. Fr. Kentenich saw the movement as being a means of spiritual renewal in the Catholic Church...
.
On October 15, 2009, Isern was appointed the fourth Bishop of Pueblo
Roman Catholic Diocese of Pueblo
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Pueblo is a Roman Catholic diocese in Colorado. The diocese was founded on November 15, 1941. It encompasses the southern half of Colorado, from Utah to the west, to Kansas in the east....
, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, by Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
. He received his episcopal
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
consecration
Consecration
Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious. The word "consecration" literally means "to associate with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different groups...
on December 10, 2009. His principal consecrator was Archbishop Charles J. Chaput
Charles J. Chaput
Charles Joseph Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. is an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He is the ninth and current Archbishop of Philadelphia, serving since his installation on September 8, 2011. He previously served as Archbishop of Denver and Bishop of Rapid City .Chaput is a professed Capuchin and...
, the principal co-consecrators were Archbishop John C. Favalora and Bishop Arthur N. Tafoya
Arthur Nicholas Tafoya
Arthur Nicholas Tafoya is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was the third Bishop of Pueblo. His resignation as bishop was accepted by Pope Benedict XVI on October 15, 2009.-Biography:...
. He is the 11th priest from the Archdiocese of Miami to become a bishop.