Ronald Paul Herzog


Ronald Paul Herzog
Bishop of Alexandria
ArchdioceseNew Orleans
DioceseAlexandria
AppointedNovember 4, 2004
InstalledJanuary 5, 2005
Term endedFebruary 2, 2017
PredecessorSam Jacobs
SuccessorDavid Talley
Orders
OrdinationJune 1, 1968
ConsecrationJanuary 5, 2005
by Alfred Clifton Hughes, Thomas John Rodi, and Robert William Muench
Personal details
Born(1942-04-22)April 22, 1942
DiedApril 12, 2019(2019-04-12) (aged 76)
EducationSt. Joseph Seminary
Pontifical College Josephinum
MottoOne in the Lord
Styles of
Ronald Paul Herzog
Reference style
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleBishop

Ronald Paul Herzog (April 22, 1942 – April 12, 2019) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, who served as Bishop of Alexandria in central Louisiana from 2005 to 2017.

Biography

Early life

Paul Herzog was born on April 22, 1942, in Akron, Ohio.[1] His parents were Lutheran and Catholic. Deciding toe become a priest, Herzog entered St. Joseph Seminary in Covington, Louisiana. He then attended the Pontifical College Josephinum in Worthington, Ohio.

Priesthood

Herzog was ordained to the priesthood at the Josephinum for the Diocese of Natchez-Jackson by Cardinal Amleto Giovanni Cicognani on June 1, 1968.[1] After his ordination, the diocese assigned Herzog to pastoral work in its diocese.

In 1971, Pope Paul VI erected the Diocese of Biloxi, taking its territory from the Diocese of Natchez-Jackson.[2] Herzog was then incardinated, or transferred, from Biloxi to the new diocese. His new diocese assigned him as pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Lumberton, Mississippi, and the Saint Joseph Parish and Mission in Poplarville, Mississippi. Bishop Joseph Lawson Howze named Herzog as director of the diocesan Office of Liturgy from 1980. The Vatican elevated Herzog to the rank of monsignor in 1988. That same year, the diocese named him as pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Laurel, Mississippi. He also served as chaplain of the Mississippi National Guard, holding the rank of brigadier general.

Bishop of Alexandria in Louisiana

On November 4, 2004, Herzog was appointed bishop of Alexandria in Louisiana by Pope John Paul II. He received his episcopal consecration at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral in Alexandria, Louisiana, on January 5, 2005, from Archbishop Alfred Hughes, with Bishops Thomas Rodi and Robert Muench serving as co-consecrators. Herzog selected as his episcopal motto, "One In The Lord".[1]

In 2013, Herzog released a statement regarding Reverend Frederick James Lyons, a retired priest. Lyons had been accused of sexually abusing minors during his early life as a priest. Herzog suspended Lyons from all priestly functions in 2006 and sent the case to Rome for examination. Lyons, in his late 80s at the time, was prohibited from acting as a priest, but not stripped of his priesthood. In his 2013 statement, Herzog asked for "your prayers for all who are affected by these accusations: victims, their families, our church and the accused."[3]

Herzog served as the Catholic chair of the Anglican-Roman Catholic Consultation. Within the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, he was a member of the Committee on Divine Worship, the Committee on National Collections, and the Subcommittee on Native American Catholics.

Herzog suffered a stroke in February 2014, with his left side affected. Herzog underwent extensive physical and occupation therapy, eventually submitting his resignation as bishop of Alexandria in Louisiana to the Vatican in 2016.[4]On September 21, 2016, Pope Francis named David Talley, auxiliary bishop of Atlanta, as coadjutor bishop of Alexandria.

Retirement and death

Talley succeeded Herzog as bishop of Alexandria on February 2, 2017.[5] Herzog died in Alexandria on April 12, 2019, at the age of 76 after a brief illness.[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Bishop Ronald Paul Herzog [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2025-10-10.
  2. ^ "Biloxi (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2025-10-10.
  3. ^ Belgard, Jodi. "Retired Alexandria priest ordered to 'life of prayer and penance' in sexual-misconduct case". The Daily Advertiser. The Daily Advertiser. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  4. ^ Alexandria, Diocese of. "Bishop Ronald P. Herzog, 11th Bishop of Alexandria – Diocese of Alexandria". Diocese of Alexandria. Diocese of Alexandria. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  5. ^ "Louisiana Bishop Herzog retires; Coadjutor Bishop Talley succeeds him". Catholic News Service. February 2, 2017. Archived from the original on February 3, 2017. Retrieved February 2, 2017.
  6. ^ KALB, KALB (12 April 2019). "Bishop Emeritus Ronald P. Herzog dies at 77". www.kalb.com. A Gray Media Group, Inc. Retrieved 4 June 2024.

Episcopal succession