Ronald Herzog
April 22, 1942— April 12, 2019
Born in Akron, Ohio on April 22, 1942, the only son of Paul Herzog and Kathyrn Donahue, Ronald Paul Herzog spent his early years in Natchez, Mississippi.
He was an alumnist of St. Joseph Seminary College, where he completed his high school and junior college studies, and of the Pontifical College Josephinum, where he completed a B.A. degree in philosophy and an S.T.B. degree in theology.
He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Natchez-Jackson on June 1, 1968 where he held pastoral and staff posts until the creation of the Diocese of Biloxi in 1977. Father Herzog served the Diocese of Biloxi both as a pastor and as Director of the Diocesan Worship Office and as Defender of the Bond and was named a Monsignor with the rank of Domestic Prelate by Pope John Paul II in 1987. He served the state of Mississippi as a chaplain in the state National Guard for 30 years, saw active duty in the Persian Gulf War and retired with the rank of Brigadier General. For his years of faithful service, he was decorated with the Mississippi Cross.
Father Herzog’s love of music and the arts was reflected in his participation with the Gulf Coast Messiah Chorus and other choral groups. He directed several choirs as well as the Diocesan Choir for the Diocese of Biloxi. He served as a member or chair of several boards for community chorus groups and performing arts groups. In 1977 he was one of three Mississippians accepted through national audition as a member of the American Choral Directors Association National Community Honor Choir. Father Herzog played a key role in the formation and development of the Red River Chorale in Alexandria and served on the board of the Alexandria Museum of Art.
Named Bishop of Alexandria by Pope St. John Paul II on October 27, 2004, Father Herzog was ordained and installed as the 11th Bishop of Alexandria on January 5, 2005. During his tenure as bishop, Bishop Herzog established two new parishes – Mary, Mother of Jesus, Woodworth in 2009 and Sts. Francis and Anne, Kolin in 2010; he ordained 17 men to the priesthood including Peter Faulk, Ryan Humphries, Joseph Bordelon, Luke Melcher, Blake Deshautelle, Anthony Catella, Irion St. Roman, Thomas Paul, Adam Travis, Martin Laird, Charles Ray, Dale Meade, Brian Seiler, Walter Ajaero, Joseph Desimone and John Wiltse.
Bishop Herzog was an active member of the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions (FDLC) for many years. In 2010 he and the Diocese of Alexandria hosted the annual national meeting of the federation. That year the focus of the meeting was “Gateway to Mystery: Implementing the Roman Missal, third edition.”
Bishop Herzog instituted and hosted the annual “Taste of Faith,” a benefit dinner designed to raise money for seminarian education. The bishop himself planned the menu and coordinated the preparations and cooking of the elaborate multi-course meal, with the help of the seminarians and later, deacons. This annual dinner has raised more than $150,000 for seminarian education.
He re-established the permanent diaconal program and in February 2012, he ordained the first class of 15 permanent deacons. He presided over the dedication of the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Natchitoches and the centennial celebration of the establishment of the diocese in 2010. Bishop Herzog welcomed and supported the ACTS retreat program and oversaw the renovation and expansion of the Maryhill Renewal Center campus.
An active member of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Bishop Herzog served as a member of various USCCB committees and as the Catholic co-chair of the Anglican-Roman Catholic Theological Consultation in the US. He also served on the USCCB Communications Committee for 10 years. In the area of communications, Bishop Herzog made the bold decision to offer The Church Today, the monthly diocesan periodical, free to every Catholic household in the diocese. He served as the episcopal moderator of the Diocesan Information Systems (DISC) Conference as well as the episcopal moderator of Radio Maria.
Bishop Herzog was a 4th degree member and proudly served as the State Chaplain for the Knights of Columbus and was a Knight Commander of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem as well as a Grand Prelate of the Order of the Fleur de Lis. He was also a member of the Alexandria Rotary Club and the Alexandria Lions Club and served as a member of the Board of Directors of United Way of Central Louisiana.
In February, 2014, Bishop Herzog suffered a stroke that affected his left side. After several months in the hospital, the bishop underwent extensive physical and occupational therapy. Not one to let health issues stop his ministry, Bishop Herzog worked through physical therapy and recovery. A multimillion-dollar project was begun to renovate the old and outdated Maryhill Renewal Center facilities. The project was completed in 2015 and breathed new life into the retreat campus. Still struggling with health issues, Bishop Herzog submitted his resignation in 2016 and Pope Frances accepted it in February 2017.
Bishop Herzog passed from this life at CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Hospital on April 12, 2019, after a brief illness and is interred at the Priests’ Cemetery at Maryhill in Pineville.
Tribute prepared by the Diocese of Alexandria, alt.