Vatican City, Jan 3, 2011 / 10:28 am
Pope Benedict named Fr. Neal J. Buckon, a priest from the diocese of Cleveland, as a new auxiliary bishop of the U.S. Military Archdiocese today.
The Jan. 3 announcement was warmly greeted by Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the Military Archdiocese, who called Fr. Buckon an “effective shepherd.” In a Jan. 3 statement, Archbishop Broglio highlighted the bishop-elect's past experience in the armed forces, saying it will “certainly contribute to the richness of the episcopal ministry to which he is now called.”
Bishop-elect Buckon, 57, retired Dec. 31, 2010 after serving as a military chaplain in countries such as South Korea, Germany, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the U.S. His last assignment was as the Eighth U.S. Army Chaplain for Current Operations and Catholic Chaplain in Yongsan, Korea.
Born in Columbus, Ohio, he attended local Catholic schools and eventually served in the U.S. Army from 1975 to 1982. He later attended St. Mary’s Seminary in Cleveland and was ordained a priest in 1995.