News Release #328

Released to media on November 29, 2000

New Ulm – Father John G. Berger, presently pastor of the Church of St. Paul, Nicollet, MN was elected to serve as the Diocesan Administrator of the Diocese of New Ulm, and took an oath of office November 28, 2000 in the presence of the Diocesan Board of Consultors at the Catholic Pastoral Center in New Ulm.

Father Berger was elected to this position following Rome’s announcement of the acceptance of the retirement of Bishop Raymond A Lucker, Bishop of New Ulm for the past twenty-five years. According to the Code of Canon Law, when the bishop of a diocese is retired from office and no appointment is made from Rome to fill the episcopacy, a Diocesan Administrator is then elected by the Diocesan Board of Consultors to govern the diocese. The Diocesan Administrator must be elected from the priests of the diocese and be at least thirty-five years of age. Once he accepts the election, he holds the power of the bishop until the Pope appoints a new bishop.

"As I see it, I am a caretaker," Berger said at the announcement of his election. "I am the interim caretaker and we are bishop-less. My position is to somehow stay the course and pray that soon we will have a new bishop."

A native of the New Ulm diocese, Father Berger will continue in the present assignment as pastor of St. Paul, Nicollet in addition to his responsibilities as Diocesan Judicial Vicar, an office he has held since 1973. He attended High School in Arlington-Green Isle and completed his college education at Nazareth Hall and St. Paul Seminary. In 1984 he studied at the Institute for Continuing Theological Education at North American College, Rome, Italy.

Father Berger was ordained to the priesthood February 19, 1967 by Bishop Alphonse J. Schladweiler, first Bishop of the Diocese of New Ulm.

Father Berger served as assistant pastor from 1967-69 at St. Anastasia, Hutchinson and 1969-74 at St. Mary, Willmar. From 1974 to 1986 he was pastor of Sacred Heart, Franklin, and from 1986-1998 at St. Willibrord, Gibbon. Father Berger has served as judge of the Marriage Tribunal since 1973, and from 1979 to the present he has held the Office of Vice Chancellor of the diocese. Since June, 1998 he has been pastor of St. Paul, Nicollet.

Pope John Paul II has accepted the resignation of Bishop Raymond A. Lucker as Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of New Ulm, Minnesota, effective Friday, November 17, 2000. The diocese is now considered vacant and without a bishop until a new appointment is made by Pope John Paul II.

According to the precept of the Code of Canon Law, within eight days of the effective date of the bishop’s retirement, the Diocesan Board of Consultors must meet and elect a Diocesan Administrator who will assume the day to day administration of the diocese until the appointment of a new bishop. During the election period the Board of Consultors assumes the governance of the diocese. The Board of Consultors of the diocese includes Revs. Dennis C. Labat, Springfield; George V. Schmit, New Ulm; Robert J. Wyffels, Morgan; Brian L. Mandel, Tracy; Steven J. Verhelst, Benson; Joseph A. Steinbeisser, Willmar; and Francis J. Garvey, Manannah.

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