Fernando Isern (born September 22, 1958) is a

Cuba Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...

n-born prelate of the

Roman Catholic Church The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...

. Formerly a pastor and high school president in the

Archdiocese of Miami The Archdiocese of Miami ( la, Archidioecesis Miamiensis, es, Arquidiócesis de Miami, ht, Achidyosèz Miami) is a particular church of the Catholic Church in the United States of America. Its ecclesiastical territory consists of Broward, Miami ...

, he served as bishop of the

Diocese of Pueblo The Diocese of Pueblo ( la, Dioecesis Pueblensis) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in southern Colorado. The diocese was created on November 15, 1941. It encompasses the southern half of Colorado, from ...

in Colorado from 2009 to 2013.

Biography

Early life and education

Fernando Isern was born on September 22, 1958, in Havana, Cuba. In 1963, his family moved to

Venezuela Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link=no, República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many islands and islets in th ...

and then in 1967 to

Miami, Florida Miami ( ), officially the City of Miami, known as "the 305", "The Magic City", and "Gateway to the Americas", is a East Coast of the United States, coastal metropolis and the County seat, county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade C ...

.http://www.miamiarchdiocese.org/ip.asp?op=D100032&lg=E, Archdiocese of Miami website Isern graduated from

Champagnat Catholic School Champagnat Catholic School is a private Catholic school with a campus in Hialeah, Florida, United States. Established in 1968, the school currently serves students in sixth through twelfth grades. History Champagnat Catholic School was founded ...

in Hialeah, Florida, in 1977. After high school, he attended

Miami Dade College Miami Dade College (Miami Dade, MDC or Dade) is a public college in Miami, Florida. Founded in 1959, it has a total of eight campuses and twenty-one outreach centers throughout Miami-Dade County. It is the largest college in the Florida College S ...

and then

Florida International University Florida International University (FIU) is a public research university with its main campus in Miami-Dade County. Founded in 1965, the school opened its doors to students in 1972. FIU has grown to become the third-largest university in Florid ...

, both in Miami, where he graduated in 1982 with a

Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of arts (BA or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts degree course is generally completed in three or four year ...

degree in business administration. After graduation, Isern got a job in marketing with First National Bank of Miami, promoting the introduction of ATM machines While working at First National, Isern started seriously considering the priesthood. He began spending time at St. John Vianney College Seminary in Miami, eventually enrolling there. He also studied at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach, Florida.

Ordination and Ministry

Isern was

ordained Ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart and elevated from the laity class to the clergy, who are thus then authorized (usually by the denominational hierarchy composed of other clergy) to perform ...

to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Miami on April 16, 1993. He then served as a

parochial vicar A vicar (; Latin: ''vicarius'') is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior (compare "vicarious" in the sense of "at second hand"). Linguistically, ''vicar'' is cognate with the English pre ...

at St. Mark Parish in

Southwest Ranches, Florida Southwest Ranches is a town in Broward County, Florida, United States. It is a suburban community part of the Miami metropolitan area and is located on the eastern edge of the Everglades, 15 miles (24 km) southwest of Fort Lauderdale and abou ...

. In 1996, Isern was transferred to St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish in Pompano Beach, Florida. In 1999, Isern 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 appointed as parochial vicar at St. Agnes Parish in

Key Biscayne, Florida Key Biscayne is an island town in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The population was 12,344 at the 2010 census. Key Biscayne lies south of Miami Beach and east of Miami. The village is connected to Miami via the Rickenbacker Causeway, originall ...

. In 2002, Isern was sent to Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Miami as parochial vicar. In 2003, he was appointed

pastor A pastor (abbreviated as "Pr" or "Ptr" , or "Ps" ) is the leader of a Christian congregation who also gives advice and counsel to people from the community or congregation. In Lutheranism, Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy and ...

of that parish. From 2008 to 2009, Isern also served as president of

Archbishop Coleman F. Carroll High School Archbishop Coleman F. Carroll High School is a private high school in The Hammocks, Dade County, Florida, United States, that was opened in 1998. Sponsored by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami, it is accredited through the Southern Associat ...

in Miami. He is affiliated with the

Schoenstatt Movement The Apostolic Movement of Schoenstatt (german: Schönstatt-Bewegung) is a Catholic Marian movement founded in Germany in 1914 by Fr Joseph Kentenich, who saw the movement as a means of spiritual renewal for the Catholic Church. The movement i ...

Bishop of Pueblo, Colorado

On October 15, 2009, Isern was appointed the fourth bishop of the Diocese of Pueblo by

Pope Benedict XVI Pope Benedict XVI ( la, Benedictus XVI; it, Benedetto XVI; german: link=no, Benedikt XVI.; born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, , on 16 April 1927) is a retired prelate of the Catholic church who served as the head of the Church and the soverei ...

. Isern received his episcopal consecration on December 10, 2009, at an arena at

Colorado State University-Pueblo Colorado State University Pueblo (CSU Pueblo) is a public university in Pueblo, Colorado. It is a member of the Colorado State University System (CSU System) and a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). History 1933 to 1959 The idea for startin ...

. His principal consecrator was Archbishop Charles J. Chaput,; the principal co-consecrators were Archbishop John C. Favalora and Bishop Arthur N. Tafoya. Isern was the 11th priest from the Archdiocese of Miami to become a bishop. As bishop, Isern instituted perpetual adoration at the Shrine of Saint Therese in Pueblo.

Retirement

On June 13, 2013, Pope Francis accepted Isern's resignation due to poor health as bishop of the Diocese of Pueblo. Currently Isern is celebrating masses in Miami. This includes Good Shepherd Catholic Church.

References

External links

Roman Catholic Diocese of Pueblo Official Site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Isern, Fernando 1958 births Living people People from Havana Florida International University alumni Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami Cuban emigrants to the United States Roman Catholic bishops of Pueblo 21st-century Roman Catholic bishops in the United States Religious leaders from Florida