Raymond E. Goedert

Raymond Emil Goedert (October 15, 1927 – December 9, 2023) was an American prelate of the Catholic Church in the United States. Goedert served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Chicago in Illinois from 1991 to 2003.

Raymond Goedert was born in Oak Park, Illinois, on October 15, 1927. He attended St. Giles Elementary School in Oak Park and Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago.

He also went to University of St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois, where he was awarded a Licentiate in Sacred Theology.

On May 1, 1952, Goedert was ordained to the priesthood at St. Mary of the Lake for the Archdiocese of Chicago by Cardinal Samuel Stritch. Arter his ordination, Goedert served as associate pastor for St. Gabriel and Blessed Sacrament Parishes in Chicago, and Mater Christi Parish in North Riverside, Illinois. Several years later, he went to Rome to study at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, where in 1956 he obtained a Licentiate of Canon Law.

Goedert was sailing back to New York on the SS Andrea Doria when it collided off the coast of Massachusetts with the MS Stockholm (1946) in July 1956. The passengers were successfully evacuated before the Andrea Doria sank the next day.

Goedert also served as a notary, vice officialis, judge of the tribunal, archdiocesan consultor, vicar for priests, archdiocesan director of NAIM, and pastor of St. Barnabas Parish in Chicago.Goedert served as vicar general of the archdiocese from 1995 to 2003 and again briefly from August 2004 to November 2004.

On July 8, 1991, Pope John Paul II appointed Goedert as auxiliary bishop of Chicago and titular bishop of Tamazeni.He was consecrated by then Archbishop Joseph Bernardin at the Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago on August 29, 1991. In 1998, Goedert was one of 75 bishops to condemn the U.S. policy on strategic nuclear weapons.

Goedert sent his letter of retirement as auxiliary bishop of Chicago to John Paul II on January 24, 2003.