Background
Joseph Gerard Hanefeldt was born in Creighton, Nebraska.
Joseph Gerard Hanefeldt was born in Creighton, Nebraska.
He did his theological studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University and studied sacramental theology at the Pontifical Atheneum of Saint Anselm both in Rome, Italy.
He has been bishop of the Diocese of Grand Island in the state of Nebraska since 2015. He began his studies for the priesthood at Saint John Vianney College Seminary at the University of Saint Thomas in Saint Paul, Minnesota. He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Omaha on July 14, 1984.
After ordination Hanefeldt served as a curate at Saint Mary"s Parish in West Point, Nebraska from 1984 to 1988, and Saint Joan of Arc Parish in Omaha from 1988 to 1992.
Concurrent with his parish assignments he served as director of the diocesan Pro-Life Office from 1991 to 2005. Hanefeldt became the pastor of Saint Joseph Parish in Omaha in 1992 and served there until 1995.
At the same time he served as the moderator of the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women. He then became pastor of Saint Elizabeth Seton Parish in Omaha in 1995 and served in that position until 2007.
From 2007 to 2012 he served on the staff of the Pontifical North American College in Rome.
Foreign the first two years Hanefeldt was a spiritual director and from 2009 to 2012 he was the director of the spiritual formation program Pope Benedict XVI named him a Chaplain of His Holiness, with the title Monsignor, in December 2010. He returned to Omaha in 2012 and served as pastor of Christ the King Parish until 2015.
Hanefeldt was named the eighth bishop of Grand Island by Pope Francis on January 14, 2015.
His episcopal ordination took place on March 19, 2015 at the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Grand Island, Nebraska. He was ordained by Archbishop George Lucas of Omaha.
Auxiliary Bishop Lee Piché of Saint Paul and Minneapolis and Bishop Robert Gruss of Rapid City were the co-consecrators.