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ST. CLOUD - The Mass Of Installation for Bishop Donald Kettler was held this afternoon at the St. Mary's Cathedral in downtown St. Cloud.

During today's (Thursday) Mass, Kettler talked about the conversation he had with Pope Benedict two-years-ago about the large number of sexual abuse cases in the Diocese of Fairbanks, mostly carried-out by church clerics and volunteers years earlier.  He says it resulted in the Diocese going into court ordered bankruptcy.

He says he learned many people are looking for healing for a variety of reasons.

Kettler says it will not be easy, and healing is a very slow process.

Click on the audio player below to hear Bishop Kettler's full sermon from this afternoon's service:

Sixty-nine-year-old Kettler was born in Minneapolis in 1944.  He graduated from St. John's University in 1970.  Kettler spent 32 years as a priest in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  He was appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Fairbanks, Alaska in 2002.

Pope Francis announced the appointment of Kettler in September.

Solemn Vespers - or evening prayer - for Bishop Kettler was held last night at St. Mary's Cathedral.  That event was open to the public.

Kettler is the Ninth Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of St. Cloud.

Bishop John Kinney led the Diocese since 1995. He announced his retirement last year.

The Diocese of St. Cloud covers 16 counties, and has 131 parishes.

(All images from Catholic Diocese Of St. Cloud Live Stream)

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