Gerald Thomas Bergan


Gerald Thomas Bergan was an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Des Moines in Iowa and archbishop of the Archdiocese of Omaha in Nebraska.

Biography

Early life

Gerald Bergan was born on January 26, 1892, in Peoria, Illinois, to William and Mary Bergan. After graduating from Spalding Institute, a Catholic high school in Peoria, he attended St. Viator College in Bourbonnais, Illinois, where he excelled in athletics. Bergan continued his studies at the Pontifical North American College in Rome.

Priesthood

Bergan was ordained to the priesthood in Rome for the Diocese of Peoria on October 28, 1915 by Cardinal Basilio Pompilj. Upon his return to the United States, he served as chancellor and vicar general of the diocese, and rector of the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Peoria.

Bishop of Des Moines

On March 24, 1934, Bergan was appointed the third bishop of the Diocese of Des Moines by Pope Pius XI. He received his episcopal consecration at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception on June 13, 1934, from Cardinal George Mundelein, with Bishops Joseph Schlarman and Henry Rohlman serving as co-consecrators. As bishop, Bergan established a diocesan newspaper called The Messenger.
At the Ninth National Eucharistic Congress in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1941, Bergan spoke on labor-management relations. Bergan asserted that the employer must engage with workers in collective bargaining. He also called for a single union for both labor and capital, and suggested that senior employees should have a share in the management of an enterprise.

Archbishop of Omaha

Bergan was named by Pius XII as the second archbishop of Omaha on February 7, 1948. During his administration, the archdiocese spent over $80 million on schools, churches, and hospitals. This activity gained Bergen the nickname of "building bishop". Between 1962 and 1965, Bergan attended all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council in Rome.

Retirement and legacy

On June 11, 1969, Pope Paul VI accepted Bergan's resignation as archbishop of Omaha and appointed him as titular archbishop of Tacarata. He resigned his titular see on January 28, 1971.Gerald Bergan died in Omaha on July 12, 1972, at age 80.
The following institutions are named after Bergen.