Pope Names Army Chaplain Auxiliary Bishop for the Military Services

WASHINGTON—Pope Benedict XVI has named Father Neal Buckon, 57, as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, and titular bishop of Vissalsa. Father Buckon is a priest of the Diocese of Cleveland and has served as a chaplain in the Army since 1998.

The appointment was publicized in Washington, January 3, by Archbishop Pietro Sambi, apostolic nuncio to the United States.

Neal J. Buckon was born September 3, 1953 in Columbus, Ohio. He attended Catholic elementary and high schools in Ohio. From 1975 to 1982 he served in the U.S. Army. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Cleveland, May 25, 1995.

Bishop-elect Buckon holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from John Carroll University and a B.A. in history from Cleveland State University. He earned his B.A. in philosophy from Borromeo College in Wycliffe, Ohio and holds a master of divinity and a master of theology from St. Mary’s Seminary in Cleveland.

After being ordained he served as parochial vicar at St. Margaret Mary Parish in South Euclid, Ohio from 1995 to 1998. Since 1998, his priestly assignments as an Army chaplain have taken him around the world. He has served in Seoul, Korea, 2008-2010; Fort Sill, Oklahoma, 2006-2008; Heidelberg, Germany, 2004-2006; Baghdad, Iraq, 2003-2004; Fort Stewart, Georgia, 2002-2003; Saudi Arabia, 2001-2002; and Fort Stewart, 1998-2001.

The Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA was established on March 25, 1985. It serves U.S. Catholics in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Veteran Affairs and those in government service overseas.

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