Denver Catholic

BY VERONICA AMBUUL AND ANNA MARIE BASQUEZ, COL- ORADO CATHOLIC HERALD PUEBLO, Colo.—Bishop Ste- phen Jay Berg, former admin- istrator of the Diocese of Fort Worth, Texas, was ordained the fifth bishop of Pueblo by Den- ver Archbishop Samuel Aquila at a packed Memorial Hall in downtown Pueblo the after- noon of Feb. 27. It was the first episcopal ordi- nation in which Archbishop Aq- uila was principal consecrator. Concelebrating the ordi- nation Mass were Bishop Mi- chael Sheridan of Colorado Springs, who had been acting as apostolic administrator of the Pueblo Diocese following the resignation of Bishop Fer- nando Isern in June 2013, and Bishop Emeritus Joseph Char- ron of the Des Moines Diocese, who is Bishop Berg's maternal uncle and who ordained him to the priesthood. In acknowledgement of the diocese's large Hispanic popu- lation, the readings were pro- claimed in both English and Spanish, and Archbishop Aquila began his homily in Spanish. In his homily, Archbishop Aq- uila encouraged Bishop Berg to get to know all the priests in the far-flung diocese. "It is important that you come to know them and love them as Christ loved the apostles," he said. "They will be your closest collaborators." Archbishop Aquila also echoed Pope Francis' words that bishops and priests are above all shepherds who "should take on the smell of the sheep." "As you look upon the faithful and serve them, always remem- ber that they are entrusted to you, but they belong to Christ," he said. "We must help the faithful, in their encounter with Christ, receive the teachings of Christ and his Church. In this day and age, it is no easy task," Archbish- op Aquila said. "We live in times in which people are rapidly re- jecting God. You will experience the same rejection that Jesus himself experienced." He told Bishop Berg to rely on the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to carry out the duties of his office. "At times, we can become distressed and disturbed and think, 'What have I gotten my- self into?' We must always re- member that those kinds of movements are from the devil," he said. "It is only when we ap- proach in confidence the Spirit that we are able to proclaim the truth of Christ in season and out of season." Prior to the rite of ordination, Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, apostolic nuncio to the United States, read the letter by Pope Francis on Jan. 15 telling Bishop Berg of his appointment. "As you go forth from Fort Worth to the Colorado des- ert-lands, allow yourself . . . to imitate the model of Christ, who cried out in the wilderness in order that those who are at a distance may hear and under- stand, from the loudness of the INDEX Archbishop's Column ......................2 The Catholic Difference ..................4 Guest Column: Feminine genius ...4 Letters to the Editor .......................4 Real Life Catholic .............................5 Nun of the Above quiz ...................13 Bulletin Board ................................. 14 Service Directory ........................... 15 Vocations top priority for Pueblo's Bishop Berg AS HE IS seated for the first time in the cathedra (bishop's chair) of the Pueblo Diocese on Feb. 27, newly-ordained Bishop Stephen Berg receives the applause of, from left, Colorado Springs Bishop Michael Sheridan, Denver Archbishop Samuel Aquila, and at far right, Bishop Emeritus Joseph Charron of Des Moines Diocese. MARCH 5, 2014 113 Years of Service to the Gospel Volume XC - No. 9 www.DenverCatholicRegister.org I Follow us on INSIDE DEACONS ORDAINED TRIBUNAL PAGE 2 Slovakian nun's cause for sainthood explored PHOTO BY DANIEL PETTY/DCR 'A free heart to be like Christ' CONFESSION PULL-OUT PAGE B2 PAGE B2 Penitents experience buoyancy, peace in first confessions Q&A: What if I'm nervous? PAGE 8 See Berg, Page 6

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