Nearly seven years ago, Austin Vetter, a Linton native, made history as the first person from the Diocese of Bismarck to be appointed a Catholic bishop anywhere in the world. Pope Francis called Vetter to serve as the 11th Bishop of the Diocese of Helena, Montana, on October 8, 2019, a role in which he has since brought a distinctive North Dakota presence to Big Sky Country.
Bishop Vetter’s coat of arms notably incorporates elements representing both the Diocese of Helena and his North Dakota upbringing. He often reflects on his journey, stating that "Jesus was preparing me to be a bishop the whole time." As the youngest of 12 children, faith was a central pillar of his family life on their Emmons County farm. Bishop Vetter, now 59, emphasized the importance of his early faith, noting he has “never willfully missed a Sunday Mass” in his life. Many of these early Masses took place at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in rural Emmons County, where he sometimes attended daily Mass with just his grandfather and the priest.
After attending Linton High School as a member of the class of 1985, Vetter's plans shifted just one year into his studies, and he entered Cardinal Muench Seminary. There, he met Msgr. Patrick Schumacher, when both were 19 years old. Their seminary journey led them to Rome, where they had the distinct honor of serving Christmas Eve Mass with Saint Pope John Paul II. Bishop Vetter recalled the remarkable experience of being “a kid from North Dakota” holding the book for the Holy Father during Midnight Mass, an event watched globally. Msgr. Schumacher remembered holding “a microphone that was live to 50 countries” during the service, and he expressed that he always believed his friend was destined for significant roles, stating, “We’re very proud of him.”
Msgr. Thomas Richter, who first met Bishop Vetter in 1980 when Richter's sister married Vetter's brother, echoed Msgr. Schumacher’s sentiment, noting he "was not surprised" by Vetter's appointment. Richter also credits Bishop Vetter for inspiring him to join the seminary. The two later worked together for a few years at Bismarck’s Cathedral of the Holy Spirit and taught senior religion classes at St. Mary’s Central High School. Bishop Vetter reflected on inspiring students, suggesting that he may have given some the confidence to pursue the priesthood, thinking, “If he can do it, I can do it.” He attributes his path from the North Dakota prairie to the Montana mountains to his faith, which continues to guide him.
In his nearly seven years leading the Helena diocese, Bishop Vetter has made a notable impact. The diocese had previously faced financial challenges, filing for bankruptcy in 2014, and church attendance had declined. Under Bishop Vetter’s leadership, the church is now financially stable, and attendance has increased by nearly 10% in the last two years. Bishop Vetter is expected to share further details about these achievements soon.
