Date of death: 10/26/2021

Saint Meinrad Class: O 1979

Reverend Monsignor Girard (Jerry) Michael Sherba, 69 years old, died on Tuesday, October 26, 2021 in Raleigh, North Carolina. He was born on June 6, 1952 in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania to Mr. and Mrs. Leon P. Sherba (Isabelle J. Frank). He is predeceased his parents and by his two brothers, Mr. Leon C. Sherba and Mr. James P. Sherba. He is survived by his loving cousins, as well as other extended family members and many friends from throughout the years.
Monsignor Sherba completed his collegiate studies at Maywood College (now University) in 1974 with a Artium Baccalaureus degree in Elementary Education and Special Education.

After discerning a vocation to the Priesthood, Monsignor Sherba entered formation and studies for the Priesthood for the Diocese of Raleigh at Saint Meinrad Seminary in Saint Meinrad, IN, completing a Masters of Divinity in 1979. Monsignor Sherba was then ordained to the Priesthood on March 9, 1979 at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Raleigh, North Carolina by the Most Reverend F. Joseph Gossman, Bishop of Raleigh. Additionally, in 1985 Monsignor Sherba was assigned to sacred studies in Canon Law, first at Thomas Aquinas University (Angelicum) in Rome, Italy, completing a Licentiate (J.C.L.) in 1987 and later for doctoral work in Canon Law, completing a Ph.D. in 2000 and a J.C.D. in 2001 at the University of Ottawa in Ontario, Canada and Saint Paul University in Ontario, Canada, respectively.

In the Diocese of Raleigh, Monsignor Sherba served as Parochial Vicar of Saint Raphael the Archangel Parish in Raleigh; as Pastor of Saint Gabriel Parish and as Chaplain of Easter Carolina University, both in Greenville; as Pastor of Saint Catherine of Siena Parish in Tarboro; as Pastor of Our Lady of the Atonement and Holy Trinity Parishes in Kinston, combined into Holy Spirit Parish in Kinston; and as Pastor and Rector of Sacred Heart Cathedral in Raleigh.
Additionally, Monsignor Sherba served in various capacities in the Tribunal of the Diocese of Raleigh, namely as an Advocate, as Defender of the Bond and as Vicar Judicial. He also served as Vice Chancellor, as Chancellor, as a Consultor, as the Bishop’s Delegate to Women Religious and on numerous committees.

Outside of the Diocese, he served as an adjunct faculty member and instructor in the Department of Canon Law at The Catholic University of America; as a Consultor to the Board of Governors for the Canon Law Society of America and as a national speaker in the study and application of the Code of Canon Law. In 2005, Monsignor Sherba was named a Knight of the Holy Sepulcher, serving later as Knight Commander. In 2006, he was bestowed with papal honors by Pope Benedict XVI, with the title of Monsignor.