Denver Catholic

INDEX Archbishop's Column ......................2 The Catholic Difference ..................4 Nun of the Above quiz ....................4 Letters to the Editor .......................4 A Call to Charity column ................5 World/Nation.....................................7 Bulletin Board ................................. 14 Service Directory ........................... 15 www.DenverCatholicRegister.org I Follow us on INSIDE RESPECT LIFE 113 Years of Service to the Gospel Volume XC - No. 3 JANUARY 22, 2014 New bishop felt 'born to be' a pastor Q&A with Bishopdesignate Berg BY ROXANNE KING PHOTO BY ANYA SEMENOFF/DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER Praying for Joshua and the millions lost to abortion PAGE 6 SPORTS Broncos' prayers are answered PAGE 3 While touring his new diocese, Pueblo Bishop-designate Stephen J. Berg, 62, spoke by phone to the Denver Catholic Register while en route from Pueblo to Alamosa Jan. 15, the day the former administrator of the Diocese of Fort Worth, Texas, was named to his new post. Q: How did you learn you had been named a bishop and what was your reaction? A: I received a call the Monday before Christmas from the nuncio. He said he had an official communication from the Holy See and I'm saying, "Yes, Archbishop." He said – I can't remember exactly how he said it – "This is to inform you that you have been appointed as bishop of Pueblo by our Holy Father, Pope Francis." My first reaction was. "I don't know where this coming from!" I was really taken aback. Also, I was already thinking about Pueblo. I had a sense of peace. I'd been through Colorado before, I studied music here. I'm from eastern Montana and I know the rural areas. I did say, "Yes!" (Laugh.) That was my reaction. I couldn't say anything about it through the Christmas holidays; that was very difficult for me. I'm relieved that I can now. I'm starting to take it all in. Q: You attended the University of Colorado in Boulder, how do you feel about returning to Colorado and do you have friends or family here? A: I feel great about returning to Colorado. I've always wanted to be closer to my NORTH TEXAS CATHOLIC PHOTO BY JUAN GUAJARDO THE FORMER Msgr. Stephen J. Berg of Fort Worth, Texas, center, now bishop-designate of Pueblo, sings during a Mass he concelebrated with Father Jonathan Wallis, left, and Father Agustino Torres, C.F.R., at a youth conference June 14, 2013. He was named prelate of Pueblo on Jan. 15. family, which is mainly located my life. So I made the move to be a priest. When I became a in Montana, Washington state, to enter the seminary to see if pastor I thought that was what some parts of northern Cali- that would work for me, and it I was born to do—I was the fornia and Oregon. I have niec- did. Semester by semester I felt happiest. I had four parishes es and nephews in Denver and called. The other side of that and I felt there need be nothing story is that Bishop Sharon, my more for me. The surprise was I have friends in Denver. Q: You became a priest af- uncle, is the one who ordained when Bishop Kevin Vann asked ter having taught music and me to the priesthood for the di- me to move back to Fort Worth working in the corporate ocese of Fort Worth. to be his vicar general. He had Q: Prior to attending your asked me to move twice before world. What made you enter uncle's episcopal ordination, but I resisted because I loved the priesthood? A: Through those years I had was he influential in your my parishes. I never expected a couple of experiences where considering the priesthood? to be vicar general, which I've A: He's always been encour- been for four years, and then I went and spoke with different priests and a sister about aging. He's really guided me diocesan administrator (the entering the priesthood and through my priesthood. My last year), which I also never I was encouraged to do so. I uncle is a very holy man and expected. eventually went to the (epis- has been close spiritually to all Q: You're originally from copal) ordination of my uncle, his nieces and nephews. Montana, why did you enQ: When you became a ter priesthood formation in Bishop Joseph Sharon in St. Paul, Minn., in 1990. I realized priest, did you ever think you Texas? when I saw (his ordination) would be named a bishop? See Berg, Page 12 A: No. (Laugh.) I was happy that I could do a lot more with CHRISTIAN UNITY CATHOLIC LIFE United in Christ, united in charity What message did she receive from Pope Benedict? PAGE 3 PAGE 9

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