Fr. Richard Berding - September 16, 2007

Father Richard P. Berding, who served as chaplain at Nazareth Home, died last weekend at Bishop David Apartments where he resided. He was 54.

Father Berding, a native of Louisville, was a former chaplain in the U. S. Navy and served as pastor of St. Luke Church for 12 years, from 1993 to 2005.

He converted to Catholicism in 1974 and attended St. Rita Church. He had been a Southern Baptist before his conversion. A decade later, he was ordained a priest on May 19, 1984, at the Cathedral of the Assumption. He celebrated his first Mass at St. Rita.

In 1979 he entered St. Meinrad Seminary College, now St. Meinrad School of Theology, as a novice and began his undergraduate studies. He attended the Catholic University of America’s Theological College for graduate studies.

Before his presbyteral ordination, Father Berding served as a deacon at St. Lawrence for a year in 1983. After his ordination in 1984, he was appointed associate pastor of St. Stephen Martyr Church where he served for three years. In 1987 he became a Navy chaplain. He served in the Navy for six years and was appointed to St. Luke in 1993.
 
He moved to Bishop David Apartments in 2005 and began serving at Nazareth Home this past June.

A memorial Mass will be celebrated at St. Luke Church, 4211 Jim Hawkins Drive, Sept. 24 at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be private.