Rev. Msgr. Arnold Berg , 94 ,of Springfield, died on Saturday, June 28, 2003, at Gil-Mor Manor in Morgan.
Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 2, 2003, at St. Raphael's Catholic Church in Springfield, with interment at St. Raphael's Catholic Cemetery in Springfield. The Principle Celebrant will be Bishop John C. Nienstad and he will be assisted by the Priests of the New Ulm Diocese.
Visitation will be at 4 - 8 p.m. today and 9-10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the St. Raphael's Catholic Church in Springfield. There will be a 7 p.m. Parish Prayer Service today and a 10 a.m. Men's Rosary Wednesday, both at the church.
Arnold Joseph Berg, the second son of Anton H. and Anna C. (Hillesheim) Berg, was born on Aug. 9, 1908, in Springfield. Because he was born with a defective heart, he was baptized the following day.
At the age of seven, he began his primary studies at St. Raphael's School, where in six years he completed his elementary education. For three years, he attended St. Raphael's High School, then attended Nazareth Hall for another three years. He began his final studies for the priesthood in 1927 at the St. Paul Seminary. In his deaconate year, he was appointed Seminary Master of Ceremonies, teaching his fellow students how to conduct themselves for liturgical functions. In that same year, he conducted all the Holy Week ceremonies at the St. Paul Cathedral. Also, he was offered the opportunity to sit with the Faculty as a non-voting member in judgment on his fellow students. He turned down the offer. When offered the opportunity to do post-graduate work at Heidelberg University in Germany, he told the Archbishop that he wished to do parish work.
He was ordained on June 3, 1933, by the Most Reverend John Gregory Murray, D.D. at the St. Paul Cathedral. His First Solemn High Mass was sung at the Church of St. Raphael in Springfield, on June 6, 1933.
His first appointment was to the Church of St. Matthew on the East Side in St. Paul, a parish with a large grade school, a two-year high school and with 2,100 families. In addition to regular priestly duties, he was in charge of the parish picnic, the three-day bazaar, directing plays and operettas, and bowling alley. After nine years and eight months, in 1943, the Archbishop assigned him to the Church of St. Mary in Seaforth, a parish of some 70 families. His stay in Seaforth was of comparatively short duration. They were years of rest and relaxation amid kindly and loving parishioners. He remained there until June of 1947. It was his first parish and he loved it there.
In June of 1947, he assumed charge of the Church of St. John the Baptist in Searles, a parish with a school and 120 families, a rural parish where families loved their church, school and pastor. He remained there until June 1960. When the parish celebrated its Golden Jubilee, he wrote a detailed history of the parish. As a part of his priestly duties, he visited the parishioners in their homes every year except during the last two years, when he was already in the diocesan chancery. In addition to his priestly duties, he designed and had built a convent, an enclosed front porch for the rectory, a steam heating plant for the church and rectory, a new well and pumphouse and storage shed. Under his direction the church was decorated, a marble altar was installed, new light fixtures placed, the church kitchen renovated and toilet facilities provided in the church basement. Along with his janitor, on hands and knees, they installed floor tile in the church, classrooms, kitchen and auditorium. Tile ceilings, light fixtures and wardrobes, and new windows were installed in all four classrooms. They were busy years and he loved them all.
Late in 1957, the news broke that a new diocese of New Ulm had been created. Shortly after, a letter came appointing him Personal Master of Ceremonies to the new Bishop, and first Chancellor of the newly established diocese, a secret to be revealed on Jan. 30, 1958.
From Jan. 30, 1958, until June 1960, he was both Pastor at Searles and Chancellor of the Diocese of New Ulm. On June 3, 1960, even before the new chancery and residences were completed, he left Searles for his new residence at the Chancery of New Ulm. On Sept. 1, 1963, His Holiness, Pope John XXIII conferred upon him the honor of Domestic Prelate with the title of Right Reverend Monsignor. Upon the death of the first Vicar General, Monsignor was appointed Vicar General on Feb. 20, 1964, a title he was to retain until June 30, 1978.
At the close of 20 years of work for the Diocese he "wore these hats:" Vicar General, Chancellor, Director of the Propagation of the Faith, of the Holy Childhood Association, of the Diocesan Mission of San Lucas Toliman, of Worship, of Finance, of Investments (having never lost a penny in 20 years), of Property Maintenance, of the Diocesan Insurance, (both general and health), and Bishops Representative on the Pension Plan for Priests. He devised the DUF (Diocesan United Fund) wrote the first specifications for the Diocesan Insurance Plan. A priest of the Diocese remarked at one of the many meetings -- after the Bishop retired Monsignor Berg, he had to hire 11 people to replace him.
After Monsignor's retirement, he lived for 11 months in the Catholic Rectory at Lafayette. Shortly into the New Year of 1979, Monsignor was told by a compassionate member of the Personnel Board that in May of that year he would be notified by the Bishop to vacate the rectory.
Two weeks to find a new home for himself and his faithful housekeeper. By the end of May, he was able to move into his new home at 107 W. Lincoln in Springfield. There he spent his retirement years taking care of his "ranch" as he called it, in peace and quiet, caring for his lawn, flower gardens, doing much reading along with his domestic tasks. Monsignor enjoyed traveling, especially to Guatemala.
He is survived by his niece, Carol and husband Russell Renberg of Comfrey, and a nephew, James A. and wife Carol Berg of McHenry, Ill. He is preceded in death by his parents Anton H. and Anna C. Berg; brothers, Leo A. and Sylvester A. and wife Elinor Berg; and nieces Charlotte Berg and Charlene Warmbier.
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