New Bishop appointed in Pueblo - and he has music degrees
  • PaixGioiaAmorPaixGioiaAmor
    Posts: 1,473
    WASHINGTON—Pope Francis has named Msgr. Stephen Berg, 62, a priest of the Diocese of Fort Worth, Texas, and diocesan administrator of that diocese, as bishop of Pueblo, Colorado. He succeeds Bishop Fernando Isern, who resigned last June for health reasons.

    The appointment was publicized in Washington, January 15, by Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, apostolic nuncio to the United States.

    Bishop-elect Berg was born March 3, 1951, and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Fort Worth, May 15, 1999, by his uncle, Bishop Joseph Charron. He holds a bachelor of music degree from University of Colorado, Boulder, and a master of music degree from Eastern New Mexico University, Portales, New Mexico. He pursued seminary studies at Assumption Seminary in San Antonio and earned a master of divinity degree from Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio.

    Assignments after ordination included 1999-2001, parochial vicar, St. Michael’s Parish, Bedford, Texas; 2001-2002, parochial vicar, St. John the Apostle Parish, North Richland Hills, Texas; 2002-2008, pastor of four rural parishes in Texas: St. Mary, Henrietta; St. Jerome, Bowie; St. William, Montague; and St. Joseph, Nocona.

    From 2008-2012, he was vicar general of the diocese and pastor of St. Peter the Apostle Church in Fort Worth. In 2012, he was also name moderator of the curia and named parochial administrator of Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Fort Worth. In December 2012, he was elected diocesan administrator by the diocesan board of consultors.

    The Pueblo diocese includes 48,155 square miles in the southern and western part of Colorado, and has a population of 667,586 people, with 63,714, or ten percent of them, Catholic.
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    Did you catch the third paragraph, mentioning his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees?

    It will be interesting to see/hear what his preferences for music are.
  • CharlesW
    Posts: 11,979
    Wait and see. Rembert Weakland had music degrees, too.
  • PaixGioiaAmorPaixGioiaAmor
    Posts: 1,473
    Yes. This is why I wasn't extolling him, but saying "It will be interesting to see." - although Weakland was also not the devil incarnate that some make him out to be.

    I'd like to hear from anyone who has had dealings with him.
  • Blaise
    Posts: 439
    Having music degrees is awesome, but more importantly, what were Masses like under his previous parish assignments? That, too me, is what is most relevant as to what he will do in the future. We will have to wait and see. That being said, for the sake of curiosity, it is nice to see a man with a degree in music in the sacred priesthood.
    Thanked by 2francis CHGiffen
  • PaixGioiaAmorPaixGioiaAmor
    Posts: 1,473
    Well, the one nice thing about it is that I'll almost bet you money that the USCCB puts him on a committee for liturgy or music. Frankly, we need more bishops on those committees who are musicians. I'm not sure how many members of the conference have music training, but it's definitely not many - or perhaps any.
    Thanked by 2Jeffrey Quick CHGiffen
  • AndrewK
    Posts: 41
    PGA, I have met and spoken with Msgr. Berg. He is a very holy and unassuming man. I was very much delighted to hear the news about his appointment in CO, however, it is a loss to the FW diocese. I cannot speak about the Masses he said since I have never attended one, however, the parishes which he served (with the exception of the rural parishes) are less than pleasing, architecturally speaking. Unfortunately, that is typical of most churches in this diocese. It will be interesting to see what he brings to Pueblo since I never would have guessed he was on the "bishop-radar."
  • ghmus7
    Posts: 1,483
    Well, even a pastor cannot always control what the masses are like in his own parish. I know that for a fact.
  • ronkrisman
    Posts: 1,394
    Well, the one nice thing about it is that I'll almost bet you money that the USCCB puts him on a committee for liturgy or music.

    I just noticed this comment by PGA from Jan. 17. Perhaps a number of forum readers aren't aware of how USCCB standing committees are formed. The voting members of the USCCB elect the chairmen of such standing committees, but each chairman appoints the members of the committee he chairs. Certainly there's a lot of lobbying behind the scenes, friendly suggestions from a chairman's fellow bishops, etc. But he, the chairman, does the choosing.

    There is no USCCB standing committee for music. But the Committee on Divine Worship will usually have a subcommittee to deal with matters pertaining to liturgical music.
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