Honoree for the 53rd Annual Scholarship Ball

The Most Rev. Andrew Cozzens, STD ’91, was installed as the eighth Bishop of the Diocese of Crookston, Minnesota, on December 6, 2021. He previously served as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis from 2013 to 2021.

Bishop Cozzens serves as the Chair of the Board for the National Eucharistic Congress Corporation. On behalf of the United States Conference of Bishops, he is leading the three-year National Eucharistic Revival and oversaw the 10th National Eucharistic Congress in July of 2024. The Congress, for which Benedictine College was a Mission Sponsor, was the first event of its kind in 83 years and began with Bishop Cozzens leading over 60,000 pilgrims in Indianapolis in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

The youngest of three children of Jack and Judy Cozzens, Andrew became the second member of his family to attend Benedictine College, graduating in 1991. His sister, Helen Cozzens Healy ’88, is a current member of the college Board of Directors.

As a Raven student, Andrew followed the loving example of his courageous mother, who carried him to term through a difficult pregnancy, and dedicated his time to service of expecting mothers and unborn children. He helped organize the first Benedictine College pilgrimage to the March for Life in Washington, DC, and cofounded Ravens Respect Life, whose work continues to this day.

During a period of discernment after college, he served as a travelling missionary to young people around the country with Twin Cities-based NET Ministries. He then worked for Saint Paul’s Outreach, where he served as co-director of campus outreach. Fr. Andrew Cozzens was ordained in 1997 and served as parochial vicar at the Cathedral of Saint Paul and then Faribault Catholic Community (now Divine Mercy) before being sent to Rome for doctoral studies. He earned his licentiate (2002) and doctorate (2008) in dogmatic theology at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum). For four years during his time in Rome, he served as chaplain for the Missionaries of Charity. Upon his return to Minnesota, Andrew began service as an instructor at the Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity.

Bishop Cozzens is a founding member of the priestly association Companions of Christ. He has served as assistant director for the Office for Worship and is a member of the Mission Advisory Council and Corporate Board of the Institute for Priestly Formation in Omaha, of St. Paul’s Outreach Board of Directors in Saint Paul, and co-chaplain of the Serra Club of the Twin Cities. He currently serves as the Chair of the board for NET Ministries, St. Paul’s Outreach, The Institute for Priestly Formation and The Seminary Formation Council. He delivered the keynote address at Benedictine College’s 2021 Commencement ceremony, where he received an honorary doctoral degree from his alma mater.