Stephen Jay Berg


Stephen Jay Berg is a Catholic bishop in the United States. He was a businessman before he was ordained a priest. Since 2014 he has served as the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Pueblo in the state of Colorado.

Early life and education

Stephen Berg was born the eldest of ten children to Connie and Jeanne Berg in Miles City, Montana. He was educated in the local Catholic schools and graduated from Sacred Heart High School. He earned a bachelor of music degree from the University of Colorado and a master of music degree from Eastern New Mexico University. Berg taught music at Tarrant County College in Fort Worth, Texas and worked in the retail nursery industry for 14 years. He started studies for the priesthood at Assumption Seminary in San Antonio and completed a master of divinity degree at the Oblate School of Theology also in San Antonio. Berg was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Fort Worth on May 15, 1999 by his uncle, Bishop Joseph Charron, C.PP.S. of Des Moines.

Priesthood

After ordination, Berg served as the parochial vicar at St. Michael’s Church in Bedford, Texas from 1999 to 2001 and at St. John the Apostle Church in North Richland Hills, Texas from 2001 to 2002. From 2002 to 2008 he was the pastor of St. Mary's Church in Henrietta, St. Jerome Church in Bowie, St. William Church in Montague, and St. Joseph Church in Nocona all in rural Texas. Berg served as the vicar general of the Fort Worth diocese from 2008 to 2012 while also serving as the pastor of St. Peter the Apostle Church in Fort Worth. He was named moderator of the curia and named parochial administrator of Holy Name of Jesus Church in Fort Worth in 2012. In December of the same year he was elected diocesan administrator sede vacante by the diocesan board of consultors.

Bishop of Pueblo

named Berg the bishop of Pueblo on January 15, 2014. He was consecrated on February 27, 2014 by Archbishop Samuel Aquila of Denver. Bishop Emeritus Joseph Charron, C.PP.S. of Des Moines and Bishop Michael Sheridan of Colorado Springs were the principal co-consecrators. The liturgy was held in Memorial Hall in Pueblo, Colorado.

Episcopal succession