Bernard Joseph Topel

Bernard Topel was born in Bozeman, Montana, the fourth son of Henry Albert and Mary Pauline (née Hagen) Topel.[1] His father was an East Prussian tailor who had come to the United States in 1878, and his mother had immigrated from Switzerland at age nine.[2][3] He attended grade school in Bozeman and, after graduating from St. Charles High School in Helena, studied at Mount St. Charles College.[3] He then studied theology at the Grand Seminary of Montreal in Quebec, Canada, before returning to the United States and entering the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.[1] He there earned a master's degree in education in 1927.[1]

Topel was ordained to the priesthood in Helena on June 7, 1927.[4] Furthering his studies, he then earned his master's degree in mathematics from Harvard University and afterwards his doctorate from the University of Notre Dame.[3] From 1934 to 1937, he served at the missions in Toston and Wolf Creek.[1] He then returned to the University of Notre Dame, where he taught mathematics for two years before returning to Montana.[1] He joined the faculty of Mount St. Charles College (later known as Carroll College), there serving as professor of mathematics and physics.[1] He also served as vocations director for the Diocese of Helena.[3]

His expertise as a mathematician was attested to by a comment by Albert Einstein, who is reported by a reliable source to have said, "only a couple of people really understood his theory of relativity and one was a young priest from Montana," referring to the future Bishop.

On August 9, 1955, Topel was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Spokane, Washington, and Titular Bishop of Binda by Pope Pius XII.[4] He received his episcopal consecration on the following September 21 from Bishop Joseph Michael Gilmore, with Bishops Joseph Patrick Dougherty and Joseph Clement Willging serving as co-consecrators, at the Cathedral of St. Helena.[4] Upon the death of Bishop Charles Daniel White four days later, Topel succeeded him as the third Bishop of Spokane on September 25, 1955.[4] He was installed on the following October 12 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes.[3]

As a math professor at Carroll College for 25 years, Topel was an unlikely pick to become a bishop. He stated, "I became a bishop without ever having been a pastor or working in the chancery, the common way to become a bishop. I thought I was the least prepared man to become bishop ever. But then I decided afterward I wasn't".[2]

In 1958 he led a pilgrimage of Spokane Catholics to the shrines of Europe, including the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in France on the 100th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes.[3] He began a mission program in Guatemala with the Maryknoll Fathers in 1960.[3] He attended all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council between 1962 and 1965. During his 22-year-long tenure, he established several parishes and schools, Mater Cleri Seminary, Bishop White Seminary on the Gonzaga University campus, Immaculate Heart Retreat House, homes for unwed mothers, and housing for the elderly.[5][2]

Upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75, Topel retired as Bishop of Spokane on April 11, 1978.[4] He served as Apostolic Administrator of the diocese until the appointment of his successor, Lawrence Harold Welsh. He later died at St. Joseph Care Center, aged 83.[3]