# Rudolph Gerken > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Rudolph_Gerken > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Rudolph_Gerken.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudolph_Gerken > Source revision: 1354093874 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) **Rudolph Aloysius Gerken** (March 7, 1887 – March 2, 1943) was an American [prelate](/source/Prelate) of the [Roman Catholic Church](/source/Roman_Catholic_Church). He served as archbishop of the [Archdiocese of Santa Fe](/source/Roman_Catholic_Archdiocese_of_Santa_Fe) in New Mexico from 1933 until his death in 1943. He previously served as bishop of the [Diocese of Amarillo](/source/Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_Amarillo) in Texas from 1926 to 1933. ## Biography ### Early life Rudolph Gerken was born on March 7, 1887, in [Dyersville, Iowa](/source/Dyersville,_Iowa), the sixth of seven children of William and Elizabeth (née Sudmeier) Gerken.[1] 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](/source/Pio_Nono_College_(Wisconsin)) in St. Francis, Wisconsin, and [St. Joseph's College](/source/Saint_Joseph's_College,_Indiana) in Rensselaer, Indiana. After graduating from college, Gerken moved to [Texas](/source/Texas), where he taught in the public schools for [Scotland, Texas](/source/Scotland,_Texas), from 1910 to 1912. He later joined the faculty at the [University of Dallas](/source/University_of_Dallas).[2] After discussions with Bishop [Joseph Lynch](/source/Joseph_Patrick_Lynch), Gerken decided to become a priest. He travelled to [St. Louis, Missouri](/source/St._Louis), to study [theology](/source/Theology) at [Kenrick Seminary](/source/Kenrick-Glennon_Seminary), where he also taught languages. ### Priesthood Gerken was [ordained](/source/Holy_Orders) to the priesthood for the [Diocese of Dallas](/source/Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_Dallas) by Lynch on June 10, 1917.[1] After his ordination, the diocese assigned Gerken as [pastor](/source/Curate) of Sacred Heart Parish in [Abilene, Texas](/source/Abilene,_Texas). He was transferred in 1919 to be pastor of St. Rita's Parish in [Ranger, Texas](/source/Ranger,_Texas). In 1924, Gerken was named [dean](/source/Dean_(religion)) and [consultor](/source/Consultor) of the diocese.[2] ### Bishop of Amarillo On August 25, 1926, Gerken was appointed the first bishop of Amarillo by [Pope Pius XI](/source/Pope_Pius_XI).[3] He received his [episcopal consecration](/source/Bishop_(Catholic_Church)) on April 26, 1927, from Bishop Lynch, with Bishops [Christopher Byrne](/source/Christopher_Edward_Byrne) and [Francis Kelley](/source/Francis_Kelley) serving as [co-consecrators](/source/Consecrator), in [Sacred Heart Cathedral](/source/Co-Cathedral_of_the_Sacred_Heart_in_Houston).[1] Gerken chose as his episcopal [motto](/source/Motto), "Not me but you, O Lord." During his tenure in [Amarillo](/source/Amarillo,_Texas), Gerken oversaw the construction of thirty-five [churches.](/source/Church_(building)) He also founded [Price Memorial College](/source/Holy_Cross_Catholic_Academy_(Amarillo,_Texas)), a secondary school for boys in Amarillo, and served as its first president. ### Archbishop of Santa Fe Pius XI named Gerken as the seventh archbishop of Santa Fe on June 2, 1933.[1] He was installed on August 23, 1933.[2] As archbishop, Gerken established another [diocese](/source/Diocese) and several [parishes](/source/Parish_(Catholic_Church)), sought to provide relief to American [prisoners of war](/source/Prisoner_of_war) in [Japan](/source/Japan) during [World War II](/source/World_War_II), and presided over the marriage of actress [Jane Wyatt](/source/Jane_Wyatt) and Edgar Ward in 1935.[4] He was a [Rotarian](/source/Rotary_International) and was known to quote [Aristotle](/source/Aristotle) and [St. Francis of Assisi](/source/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."[5] ### Death and legacy After suffering a [stroke](/source/Stroke) that left his right side [paralyzed](/source/Paralysis), Rudolph Gerken died on March 2, 1943, at St. Vincent's Hospital in [Santa Fe, New Mexico](/source/Santa_Fe,_New_Mexico).[1][2] ## References 1. ["Archbishop Rudolph Aloysius Gerken \[Catholic-Hierarchy\]"](http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bgerken.html). *www.catholic-hierarchy.org*. Retrieved 2022-07-26. 1. ["ARCHBISH_0__PP R -- A. GERKEN; { Catholic Prelate at Santa Fe, 55, I Once Texas' School Teacher }"](https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1943/03/03/88520022.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false). *timesmachine.nytimes.com*. Retrieved 2022-07-26. 1. ["Named Archbishop of Santa Fe."](https://www.nytimes.com/1933/06/07/archives/named-archbishop-of-santa-fe.html). *The New York Times*. 1933-06-07. [ISSN 0362-4331](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0362-4331). Retrieved 2022-07-26. 1. rgs, Special to TIlz lzw YORK (1935-11-10). ["MISS JANE WYATT IS WED IN SANTA FE; I Stage ana Screen Player Bride of Edgar B. Ward, With, Archbishop Officiating."](https://www.nytimes.com/1935/11/10/archives/miss-jane-wyatt-is-wed-in-santa-fe-i-stage-ana-screen-player-bride.html). *The New York Times*. [ISSN 0362-4331](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0362-4331). Retrieved 2022-07-26. 1. ["Archbishop Bans Health Ball"](https://www.nytimes.com/1937/12/28/archives/archbishop-bans-health-ball.html). *The New York Times*. 1937-12-28. [ISSN 0362-4331](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0362-4331). Retrieved 2022-07-26. ## External links - [Catholic-Hierarchy](http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bgerken.html) - [Gerken-Larson Heritage](http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~tdlarson/gerken/william/ArchbishopRAGerken.htm) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Rudolph Gerken](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudolph_Gerken) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudolph_Gerken?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.