New rector for Irish College

Fr Liam Bergin, 41, a priest of the diocese of Ossory, in the Repubic of Ireland, has been appointed Rector of the Pontifical Irish College, Rome. He succeeds Mgr John Fleming, diocese of Limerick, who held the position for the past eight years. Fr Liam is a native of Ballacolla, Co Laois and the eldest of six children of Cait and the late Austin Bergin. He attended primary school at St Pius X National School, Ballacolla, Co Laois, and secondary school at St Kierans College, Kilkenny. He was ordained for the Diocese of Ossory in 1985, having studied at St Patrick's College, Maynooth, and the Pontifical Irish College, Rome. Fr Bergin was awarded a Doctorate in Sacred Theology by the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, in 1997. He acted as Director of Formation in the Pontifical Irish College, Rome from 1993 to 1997 and has been Vice Rector of the College since 1997. The Pontifical Irish College, Rome was founded in 1628 for the training of students for the Irish diocesan priesthood. At present there are 19 seminarians and 42 post-graduate students resident in the college.