Berghold committee to launch fundraiser for memorial park

New Ulm - To honor the tireless and lasting contributions to the Diocese of New Ulm, the dream of an Alexander Berghold Memorial will soon be a reality. The Alexander Berghold Memorial Committee was recently formed with direction and guidance from Bishop Raymond A. Lucker, honorary co-chair. The committee has finalized plans for fundraising and the memorial park design.

The Alexander Berghold memorial preserves the memory of a missionary priest whose contributions greatly influenced the Diocese of New Ulm and the city proper. Its mission is to keep his legacy alive in the hearts and minds of New Ulm citizens, pilgrims, and visitors alike. The memorial will serve as a permanent reminder of all that he did and all that he gave.

The memorial site is located in a beautiful triangle of land known as Loretto Park, near the entrance to the Way of the Cross in New Ulm. Central to the memorial park will be a life-sized bronze statue of Father Berghold. A secondary focal point will be a bronze bell, saved from the St. Alexander Home for the Aged. It features a beautiful Latin inscription.

The Alexander Berghold Memorial Committee is planning to officially launch a capital campaign this year. Contributions to this historic memorial can be made to: Alexander Berghold Memorial Fund, Diocese of New Ulm, 1400 6th Street North, New Ulm, MN 56073

For more information on the life of Father Alexander Berghold see the feature article page 4 of this edition of the Prairie Catholic. The author and historian,

La Vern J. Rippley, is chair of the German Department at St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN and an expert on the life of Father Berghold.

Rippley stated, "Most of what is available about Berghold is all taken from the same source. This article written for the Prairie Catholic is new and taken from many sources of research over the years."

In addition to the series of articles, the committee is developing a brochure telling the story of Berghold’s life and explaining the memorial fundraising project.