Father Gary Secor
Father John Berger
Bishop Larry Silva has announced the retirement March 1 of Father John Berger, rector of the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace.
Stepping into his place will be Father Gary Secor.
The bishop made the announcement in the “official notices” published in this issue of the Hawaii Catholic Herald (see page 2).
The bishop’s announcement did not give a reason for Father Berger’s retirement, but the priest had been explaining his change in status in the past three cathedral parish bulletins.
He said his stepping down is a “medical retirement due to my serious heart problems and other health issues.”
Father Berger, 52, suffered a heart attack and blood clot in October, 2013. The normal retirement age for diocesan priests is 70.
Father Secor will keep his present positions as vicar general, the diocese’s second highest administrator after the bishop, and moderator of the curia, overseeing the diocese’s central offices and departments.
A “rector” is the cathedral’s chief administrator, the equivalent of a pastor. The true pastor of a cathedral, which houses the seat of authority of the diocesan bishop, is the bishop himself.
Father Berger is a North Dakota native who came to Hawaii in 1991. Prior to joining the Diocese of Honolulu, he had been studying for the priesthood for the Priests of the Sacred Heart (not related to Hawaii’s Congregation of the Sacred Hearts). Bishop Francis X. DiLorenzo ordained him for the Honolulu diocese on June 5, 1998, in the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa.
He was appointed cathedral rector in 2003.
Father Berger wrote in the Feb. 22 cathedral parish bulletin that he remains “an active priest in good standing” and that he hopes “to offer help with sacramental and pastoral work at a parish, at military chapels, in hospitals, etc.”
He anticipates living at a parish on Oahu.
“I hope to be around and would like to keep close to my friends and coworkers here at the cathedral, even as I move on to other places and people to serve,” he said.
Father Secor, 63, who grew up in Kailua, Oahu, was ordained in 1977. He already served as rector of the cathedral for a short term about 15 years ago. He also worked at St. Anthony, Kailua, St. John Apostle and Evangelist in Mililani, and Holy Trinity in Kuliouou.
He also served the diocese as the director of vocations and vicar for clergy. He was named vicar general in 2011 while he was still pastor of Holy Trinity.