Gerald Thomas Bergan

infobox bishopstyles
name=Gerald Bergan
dipstyle=The Most Reverend
offstyle=Your Excellency
relstyle=Monsignor
deathstyle=none |

Gerald Thomas Bergan (January 26, 1892—July 12, 1972) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Omaha from 1948 to 1969.

Biography

Gerald Bergan was born in Peoria, Illinois, and attended St. Viator College in Bourbonnais, where he excelled in athletics [TIME Magazine. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,754331,00.html?promoid=googlep In the Churches] July 2, 1934] . He then traveled to Rome to study at the Pontifical North American College, and was ordained to the priesthood on October 28, 1915. Upon returning to the United States, he served as chancellor and vicar general of the Diocese of Peoria.

On March 24, 1934, Bergan was appointed Bishop of Des Moines, Iowa, by Pope Pius XI. He received his episcopal consecration on the following June 13 from George Cardinal Mundelein, with Bishops Joseph Schlarman and Henry Rohlman serving as co-consecrators.

Bergan was later promoted to Archbishop of Omaha, Nebraska, on February 7, 1948. During his tenure, dozens of churches, rectories, and schools were replaced or refurbished—leading Bergan to become known as the "Building Bishop." He attended the Second Vatican Council from 1962 to 1965, and retired as Archbishop on June 11, 1969, after twenty-one years of service. On that same date, he was named Titular Archbishop of "Tacarata", a title he relinquished on January 28, 1971.

Bergan later died at age 80. Bergan Mercy Medical Center is named in his honor.

References

External links

* [http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bbergan.html Catholic-Hierarchy]
* [http://www.archomaha.com/Aboutus/history/ArchbishopGeraldThomasBergan.html Archdiocese of Omaha]