The bishop of our diocese is 75 years old

Our diocese’s shepherd, Bishop Ottar Mikael Myrseth, the bishop of the Northern Catholic Church, is celebrating his seventy-fifth birthday.

A bishop’s birthday is always more than a personal anniversary. At such times, a community also pauses for a moment to give thanks for the person whom God has entrusted with the service of the Church, the leadership of priests and faithful, and the preservation and transmission of faith.

Seventy-five years is a long journey. Behind it lie many encounters, many decisions, much joy, and many burdens. However, in the life of a pastor, the years do not merely represent passing time. Each one carries within it the people to whom he was sent, the communities he served, and all that he could pass on from his faith, knowledge, and humanity.

From the beginning, Bishop Ottar’s service has been characterized by the seriousness of the Christian faith, loyalty to the Catholic tradition, and pastoral responsibility. As a bishop, he not only leads church structures but also accompanies communities. Behind his presence lies listening, consideration, patience, and the quiet consistency that the Church needs in every age.

The clergy and faithful of the Saint Stephen Region are especially grateful for the attention and trust with which our bishop accompanies the life of our region. In the life of a developing community, it is of great importance that its bishop is present not as a distant leader but as a true shepherd: with interest, responsibility, and trust.

Therefore, the 75th birthday calls us not only to greetings but also to thanksgiving. We give thanks for all that Bishop Ottar has done so far in the service of the Church, and with prayer, we ask for all that he needs for his further service: physical and spiritual strength, wisdom, peace, joy, and the sustaining power of God’s grace every day.

On this occasion, we warmly greet our bishop and wish that the same faith and hope that have been the foundation of his service so far will accompany the coming years of his life.

God bless Bishop Ottar Mikael Myrseth!

Ad multos annos!