HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 32 Offered March 9, 2006 Commending the Reverend David J. Bergner. ---------- Patrons-- Hall, Jones, D.C. and Moran ----------

WHEREAS, the Reverend David J. Bergner is recognized for his outstanding service as the executive director of Commonwealth Catholic Charities for 11 years; and

WHEREAS, incorporated in 1923, Commonwealth Catholic Charities is a nonprofit social service agency that is "deeply committed to providing life-changing human services to vulnerable individuals and families throughout central and southwestern Virginia"; and

WHEREAS, Father David Bergner was born and raised in Wisconsin, holds a master's degree and a doctoral degree in social work with a specialty in administration, and has 30 years of experience as a priest; and

WHEREAS, prior to becoming executive director at the Richmond headquarters, Father David Bergner served as director of Catholic Charities of Washington, regional director of Catholic Charities for Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore, and vicar provincial of the Salvatorians; and

WHEREAS, Father David Bergner served as a missionary in Tanzania in East Africa, and when assigned to Washington, D.C., he worked with Mother Teresa and her staff developing the Catholic Charities headquarters building into a hospice for indigent, dying AIDS patients; and

WHEREAS, Father David Bergner, who is a member of the Salvatorian Fathers and Brothers, a religious order of the Roman Catholic Church, will leave Richmond and return to Wisconsin on July 1, 2006, to assume the position of provincial superior, his order’s top post in the United States; and

WHEREAS, admired for his wisdom, kindness, and great compassion, Father David Bergner is the first priest to head Commonwealth Catholic Charities in Richmond, and has provided exemplary and visionary leadership during his more than a decade of service, a period of change and tremendous challenge for charities and nonprofit organizations; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That the Reverend David J. Bergner be hereby commended for his dedication and longtime service to Commonwealth Catholic Charities; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Reverend David J. Bergner as an expression of the House of Delegates’ gratitude for his devotion to the well-being of the citizens of the Commonwealth and best wishes for continued success in his ministry.