Rudolph Gerken

Rudolph Aloysius Gerken (March 7, 1887 – March 2, 1943) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as archbishop of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe in New Mexico from 1933 until his death in 1943. He previously served as bishop of the Diocese of Amarillo in Texas from 1926 to 1933.

Biography

Early life Rudolph Gerken was born on March 7, 1887, in Dyersville, Iowa, the sixth of seven children of William and Elizabeth (née Sudmeier) Gerken. After Elizabeth died 1889, William married Carolina Wuebbelt, with whom he had six more children. Raised on a family farm, Gerken studied at Pio Nono College in St. Francis, Wisconsin, and St. Joseph's College in Rensselaer, Indiana. After graduating from college, Gerken moved to Texas, where he taught in the public schools for Scotland, Texas, from 1910 to 1912. He later joined the faculty at the University of Dallas.

After discussions with Bishop Joseph Lynch, Gerken decided to become a priest. He travelled to St. Louis, Missouri, to study theology at Kenrick Seminary, where he also taught languages.

Priesthood Gerken was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Dallas by Lynch on June 10, 1917. He received his episcopal consecration on April 26, 1927, from Bishop Lynch, with Bishops Christopher Byrne and Francis Kelley serving as co-consecrators, in Sacred Heart Cathedral. He was a Rotarian and was known to quote Aristotle and St. Francis of Assisi. In December 1937, Gerken called on Catholics in the archdiocese to not attend a Christmas ball sponsored by the Santa Fe Maternal Health Center, terming the organization a "birth control clinic."

Death and legacy After suffering a stroke that left his right side paralyzed, Rudolph Gerken died on March 2, 1943, at St. Vincent's Hospital in Santa Fe, New Mexico.