Msgr. Thomas J. Bergin – Pastor, St. Charles Parish
Born and raised in the Bronx, Msgr. Bergin attended Regis High School and Manhattan and Cathedral Colleges before entering St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers. He was ordained a Diocesan Priest in 1961, and except for 1982-1983, when he was the Pastor of St. Mary’s Church in upstate Poughkeepsie, he spent thirty years as a priest on Staten Island, first as Assistant Pastor of St. Charles Church, then at Msgr. Farrell High School (1965-1973) where he taught Latin, Religion and Psychology, was a Guidance Counselor, and Chairman of the Athletic Department.
From 1973-1982, Msgr. Bergin was the principal of Moore Catholic High School. He returned as Farrell’s educational leader in 1983, remaining there until July 1,1992, when John Cardinal O’Connor named Msgr. Bergin the Vicar for Education of the Archdiocese. On January 15, 1993, the Cardinal appointed him Chancellor of the Archdiocese. Msgr. Bergin served as both Chancellor and Vicar for Education for a year before returning full-time to the education post. On July 1, 1995, he became the president of Cathedral Girls High School in Manhattan, while continuing as Vicar for Education.
During his years at Msgr. Farrell and Moore Catholic High Schools, Msgr. Bergin was a weekend assistant at a number of Staten Island parish churches, and served daily and weekends at St. John the Evangelist Church on East 55th Street in Manhattan from 1995-2002.
Pope John Paul II named Msgr. Bergin a Prelate of Honor, with the title Reverend Monsignor, in 1990. Msgr. Bergin has been an Archdiocesan Consultor since 1993.
In May 2002 Msgr. Bergin was assigned as Administrator of St. Raymond’s Parish in the Bronx. On July 1, 2004, Msgr. Bergin returned to Staten Island, being named the fifth Pastor of St. Charles in Oakwood Heights.
