Early life

Michael Izen was born on January 12, 1967, in Fairmont, Minnesota, to John and JoAnna Izen. He is the youngest of six children, and is of Lebanese descent. He attended Fairmont High School. After high school, Izen entered St. John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota, where he received a degree in mathematics and computer science.^[1]

After finishing college, Izen worked nine years for 3M Company as a systems analyst. Having decided to become a priest, Izen left 3M to attend Saint Paul Seminary in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He received a Master of Divinity degree from the seminary.^[2][3][4]

Priesthood

Izen was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis on May 28, 2005, by Archbishop Harry Flynn at the Cathedral of Saint Paul in St. Paul, Minnesota.^[4] The archdiocese assigned Izen as associate pastor at Divine Mercy Parish in Faribault, Minnesota.^[5]

In 2007, the archdiocese transferred Izen to St. Timothy Parish in Maple Lake, Minnesota, to serve a pastor there. He was moved in 2012 to serve as pastor of St. Raphael's Parish in Crystal, Minnesota. After three years at St. Raphael's, Izen became pastor of St. Michael and St. Mary's Parishes in Stillwater, Minnesota, serving there until 2023.^[2]

Auxiliary Bishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis

Pope Francis appointed Izen as an auxiliary bishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis on January 5, 2023. On April 11, 2023, Izen was consecrated as a bishop at the Cathedral of Saint Paul by Bernard Hebda, with Andrew Cozzens and Joseph A. Williams serving as co-consecrators.^[5]