Daniel James Gercke

Daniel James Gercke was an American Catholic prelate who served as Roman [Catholic Diocese of Tucson|bishop of Tucson] in Arizona from 1923 to 1960. He was named as a titular archbishop in 1960.

Biography

Early life

Daniel Gercke was born on October 9, 1874, in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Holmesburg] section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Christopher and Catherine Gercke. He attended St. Joseph's College in Philadelphia, from where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1891. He completed his theological studies at St. [Charles Borromeo Seminary] in Philadelphia.

Priesthood

Gercke was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia by Archbishop Patrick Ryan on June 1, 1901. He then served as a curate at St. Joseph's Parish in Girardville, Pennsylvania, and afterwards at Holy Trinity Parish in Philadelphia. He briefly served at St. Mary's Parishh in Philadelphia before going to Vigan City, Philippines, in 1903. He served as vicar general of the Diocese of Nueva Cáceres in the Philippines from 1910 to 1919.
Gercke was named a domestic prelate by Pope Benedict XV in 1915, and returned to Philadelphia in 1919. He then served as rector of the Cathedral [Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, Philadelphia|Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul].

Bishop of Tucson

On June 21, 1923, Gercke was appointed the third bishop of Tucson by Pope Pius XI. He received his episcopal consecration on November 6, 1923, from Cardinal Dennis Dougherty, with Bishops John MacGinley and James Paul McCloskey serving as co-consecrators.

Retirement and legacy

On September 28, 1960, Pope Paul VI accepted Gercke's resignation as bishop of Tucson and named him as titular archbishop of Cotyaeum on the same date. Daniel Gercke died on March 19, 1964, at age 89.